MENDILIBAR: "WE WANT TO GET OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE CONFIDENCE BACK"

José Luis Mendilibar spoke to the media at midday in his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's meeting with CA Osasuna on the sixth LaLiga EA Sports match day, which takes place at 16:15 on Saturday afternoon. Mendilibar began by underlining that "the games come thick and fast now and we've already been making a few changes, there will be some tomorrow. We want to build on our performances but with the players that are 100% ready. We have another fixture three days after this game. We will start the strongest team available. Osasuna are formidable at home and with the backing of their supporters they're hard to beat but, if we play as well as we can, we are two. It will be a tough battle to get on top and then go for the three points."

"Tomorrow is just another game. The finals come at the end of the season. We haven't started well and we're finding it difficult to get wins on the board, but so are almost all the other teams as well, although that's no reason to accept it. We want to get our individual and collective confidence back, that's what matters most to me," the boss continued

"The season is long and has only just begun so what happens now is no reflection of what might come."

The coach also spoke about any potential impact of having played in the Champions League only three days before Saturday’s fixture: "All teams train to improve their players, to build the best squads they can, and compete. These days midweek European football has a much bigger impact than in the past. It’s not easy to win anymore, no longer easy to score goals [because of VAR], but things even themselves out. The season is long and has only just begun so what happens now is no reflection of what might come.

For the final question, Medilibar was asked about Acuña, who returned to training this week: "He will not be available for tomorrow nor for Almería I think. He is a brave player and he really wants to be back but I don't think it will be possible. He is working his way with the group and he is taking it bit by bit, but as I said I don't think he will be available, just like Marcao."