BERIZZO: "WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING BETTER, NOT SOMETHING ELSE"

Eduardo Berizzo spoke to the media this Monday in his pre-match press conference for Tuesday's Copa del Rey clash with Cartagena. The situation looks bleak, after three consecutive defeats and nine goals conceded in two matches, and the boss made no excuses: "It has hurt me to have conceded too many goals, it's an unfortunate amount; and their manner, on the counter... You can't allow yourself to fall apart and keep allowing the opponent to do you damage, you can't shoot yourself in the foot in the middle of the match... We also haven't been able to create better chances and finish off the ones we've had. We need to be less affected by fluctuations in matches and make sure that our strength in spirit doesn't abandon us", he said.  

However, despite recognising the need to change things, the boss does not believe in drastic tactical alterations, rather in improving current performances: "I think we need to do what we're currently doing better, not something else. You don't automatically attack better by playing more strikers, nor defend better by playing more defenders. Our system is the same as when we were keeping clean-sheets... When you're met with defeats, you don't immediately start doing things you don't believe in but keep doing what you believe in, get up early and get to work".

"When you're met with defeats you don't immediately start doing things you don't believe in"

For Berizzo the players "understand" the ideas but "struggle with imperfect execution. But with these struggles you have to move forwards and not back. We all have to take extra steps, me first".