First team

LOPETEGUI: "WE WANT TO DELIVER A RESPONSE IN OUR FIRST MATCH IN FRONT OF OUR FANS"

18/08/2022

"Everyone will be called up apart from Tecatito, who picked up an ankle injury in training"

Julen Lopetegui wants to see a "response" from his team in tomorrow's first home match of the season against Real Valladolid.

Speaking at today's pre-match press conference, the coach is keen to see an improvement after a 2-1 defeat away at Osasuna in the curtain-raiser.

"The team are excited and are looking to put in a good performance at our stadium. Our opponents are sure to cause problems. We want to deliver a response in our first match in front of our fans."

Lopetegui did not solely put that defeat down to a questionable penalty decision for Osasuna's winning goal.

"We must not focus on the penalty, we have a lot of things to improve on from Pamplona. It's a mistake that can happen to anyone. There are no soft penalties - it's either a penalty or it isn't. You see this one and it isn't. It's a mistake both on the pitch and by VAR."

"The club have made a good move for Nianzou"

Attentions then turned to team selection issues, namely a new injury and three of the new recruits.

"Everyone will be in the squad apart from Tecatito, who picked up an ankle injury in training so we'll have to wait for the tests. It doesn't look good, he's gone in an ambulance. These things happen in football. Let's hope the tests say it's as minor as possible."

"Nianzou is a young lad who's in good shape. The club have made a good move. We'll try to get him playing as soon as we can because we need good performances, but I think the club's commitment to him and his future is in line with the club's policy.

"Marcão has completed his first training session in full so we'll try to get him ready to play in the best way possible. Isco will be called up for the squad just like everyone else."

"We try to be aggressive in every match. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we don't"

The coach then spoke about tomorrow's opponents, newly-promoted Real Valladolid.

"I'm expecting them to play with the energy of a newly-promoted side. They play good, brave football and have talent. They can employ different setups, Pacheta's already done that before at Huesca."

"However, what we do is what's important. We're a team that tries to be aggressive in every match. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we don't, it depends on our accuracy. We try to do it home and away."

"We've already started competing, so all our energy is focused on those who are here"

To finish, Lopetegui commented on the final two weeks of the transfer window.

"We've already started competing, so all our energy is focused on those who are here and will take us forward in matches."

"We've always spoke about the delay in the transfer window closing, so the club will work on what it deems appropriate to try to give us the best squad possible to compete in every competition. Logically, it's essential to have two competitive teams."