SAMPAOLI: "WE HAVE TO PLAY WITH ENERGY AND FREEDOM"

Jorge Sampaoli spoke at the official press conference for tomorrow's clash against Fenerbahçe, in which he was accompanied by Bono. He began by talking about Badé, the big return for Wednesday's session: "Today he did some partial work with us and he did well, although his schedule is more linked to Sunday. In terms of his importance, he's a player we missed when he was out, but we have to learn to live with the reality that we have and work with other players so that these absences don't harm us."

Asked about his personal situation, he commented: "I always say the same thing. I'm the same now as when we were winning so many games and the dynamic was beginning to shift. I know where I am and I know that there are going to be bumps in the road because of the reality we live in. We have to face them and compete in that reality. We have just eliminated a Europa League candidate like PSV and now we have a rival that is also doing very well. We have to try to be competitive despite our difficulties, which are real and are there, but we have to solve them."

Regarding yesterday's talk with the entire squad, coaching staff and directors, he said that "it had to do with the fact that we're in a complicated situation in LaLiga. We have to be more united and trust in the players we have, making up for some absences through performance. We know that we have two very important competitions at the same time. I have never before returned to a place where I was previously happy, I was happy at Sevilla at another time and in another reality, but I came here because of the way I left and I came to make a difference."

"I am convinced that I will give all my knowledge and my ability to change this. I don't listen to all the other speculation in the media, I don't listen to them, nor do they bother me. I came here to do a job and until the last moment, I will give my all for this. I had to replace a very good coach who was in a very low position in the table. That coach, one of the best in the club's history, had to leave. This is my second stint here, we have had a temporary improvement that has to be consolidated so that the club doesn't panic about the reality of the situation. We are three points behind twelfth and that is what we must look at. What I do is work so that we can continue to make progress."

"I am convinced that I will give all my knowledge and skills to change the situation."

On the different systems the Turkish side uses, he commented that "we trained different options for a change of system, even within the same match. You have to adapt quickly to these changes and for me, it's all about football. When we find the dynamic that the team had in many games like against Cádiz, Elche, Mallorca... We always play the same way and defend the same way and we didn't have as many problems as in the last two games. The adaptation to the game with respect to what the opponent presents is very well worked out. I'm sure the systematic changes will keep us on our toes in order to change and make our opponents uncomfortable."

"This patch we've hit makes us rethink some things, but we have to play with energy and freedom, because if we play under pressure and with anxiety it's the worst thing that can happen to us. He also acknowledged that he knows Fenerbahçe very well: "I gave Valencia his debut at EMELEC when he started. I managed a lot of players from that team and I have a lot of knowledge of the squad. I think their strong points are their pressing, transition and the strength of their two strikers, who are at an elite level."

On the shareholder issue: "These last two defeats have made me uncomfortable and have given me the responsibility to give the players more security to get out of this moment. What happens at club level will concern the people linked to those positions, but we are focused on the football side of things to the extent that these issues don't affect us so much. Our priority is sporting matters."

And finally, on his side's defence: "There is a perception that when the team doesn't play well, it's only because of the centre-backs. There are a lot of situations where we lose the ball that prevent us from getting ourselves organised, regardless of whether we have four or five defenders. It's easy to make excuses for absences, but there is a structural reality that needs to be supported so that the team doesn't suffer when the game progresses. When the team plays better, that transition will be much less noticeable."