MENDILIBAR: "TRAINING HAS GONE VERY WELL AND THE BREAK HAS BEEN GOOD FOR US"

José Luis Mendilibar spoke to the media at midday to preview Sunday's match against Las Palmas: "For the first time we could train with a group who we know will be here until at least January. That's all we have wanted for some time. These two weeks have gone very well. Those who stayed trained well. It has given us time to forget the issues from the start of the season, the so-called tension with those who wanted to leave... We've been able to focus solely on training, and it's served us well." Moreover, he reassured that "we all know what our role will be between now and January at least. That helps everyone to settle down, to think only about the next game. The days of training and rest have been good for everything. We need everyone to look after themselves in all areas, not just football."

Asked about Lucas Ocampos's comments about his relationship with his manager, Mendilibar said "that is what I want with all my players, for them to have the confidence to tell us things at any given time. At the end of the day, when the training session finishes, we're all just people. The best thing about this group of players, except being very good, is that I'm able to have a close relationship with them. Maybe if I benched him for three straight games his trust in me would disappear, but that's football. We're taking things day by day, but the fact he has that confidence right now speaks volumes. I always say to them, if you hear your name very little during training, that's bad. If I don't call your name, it means I'm not that interested in you."

Regarding Sergio Ramos, he confirmed that “he has been training with the group for two weeks, I think he has also realised that individual training is not the same as with the group. We as the coaches have told him what we want from a centre-half like him, our style and philosophy because regardless of a player’s quality, all teams play differently. I’ve told him what he can change from where he has played previously, I’ve spoken with him and he was clear he wants us to treat him like any other player. Whether he plays or not, we’ll see on Sunday. He’ll definitely get an ovation if he plays.” On Sevilla’s new signing, he assured that “I’ve had players with over 100 international caps. Everyone is important, irrespective of what they’ve done before. What is important is what they bring to the team. I hope Sergio is important because of what he gives us in the day-to-day, in the dressing room and on the pitch. A player isn’t more important based on who they’ve played for or for being an international, but because of what they give the team.”

“Every player is important, regardless of the teams they’ve played in before.”

On the attack, he addressed the arrival of Mariano: “he’s another option which I think is necessary irrespective of the system we play. Due to the number of games and competitions, I think he was a necessary addition. Having more forwards doesn’t mean we will necessarily change the system, we might, but what matters is having enough forwards to achieve our targets.” Furthermore, he was asked about what Soumaré can bring: “I don’t know if we were lacking in that part of the pitch or not. He completes the midfield, the fifth player in addition to the four we already had. In recent years, Fernando has been our ball-winner. Last season we won the Europa League with him. In just a month and a half people are suddenly saying he’s no longer good enough and isn’t on the same level. Soumaré will help us as he’s a good footballer, he also adds another body to the squad.”

He also spoke about the type of game he was expecting: "Starting well is always important and even more so in the situation we find ourselves in. I'm not scared of saying it. What happens on Sunday has nothing to do with what has happened up until now because we have improved a lot and I hope that we can win. It's what we always look for. We also now have a quite demanding fixture list in a short space of time and all those players that you have spoken about before asking about Las Palmas, will help us a lot. I am not sure if it will be the first, second or fifth game but they will help us a lot and we will have to use everyone that we have." On the fans, he said that "the atmosphere, the majority of the time, it is us who play the game and it is us who play well or badly. There are games that we don't have to do anything because the atmosphere will be amazing because the fans already know. In other games, you have to get the crowd going. I hope that we can do it and that we don't let them down so we maintain our intensity and work together with the fans." 

Lastly, he gave an update on the club's injuries. "Jesús has recovered. The other three are still injured, although I think that Marcao will begin to train again next week and Acuña is not far away either. Nianzou is the one that will take a bit more time. I hope that they will all be back and able to help the team after the next international break."