SÁNCHEZ FLORES: "A CUP RUN WOULD BE GOOD FOR US AS A GROUP"

Quique Sánchez Flores spoke to the press ahead of Sunday's Copa del Rey Round of 32 clash against Racing de Ferrol. Our head coach was in good spirits and seemed optimistic: "We will play our strongest XI. We know that a cup match could be a good thing for us as a group. A cup run gives the potential to reach a final and opens a door to European football. We are all aware that this is important for the club and we will give it our best effort in each game." Talking about the opposition, he stated the game "won't be easy. They are having a great season so far and are full value for their league position. They will try to put us under pressure and cause problems. They will come prepared and will have analysed our previous matches, trying to work out how to exploit our weaknesses. Needless to say, we need a good 90-minute performance."

Regarding a potential change in mentality from regular league competition, Sánchez Flores said the following: "I am a realist. The dynamics are the dynamics and I find it hard to believe that the mentality can be separated by competitions and compartmentalised. We will have the same players available, we will try to improve the same things and we will go there to compete and win the game. Football and group management is not that simple. A change in mentality doesn't take place that quickly or just because of a change in competition. It depends on other things."

Equally, our head coach spoke about the possibility of fielding youth players: "We have two days to prepare for the match and we will put out the best possible team. It is not a question of whether they are have played for the first team before or not. We have to use the best players available for this game and make sure that they fit the demands of this match." To round off, on the topic of possible additions, Sánchez Flores pointed underlined that "it is easier for us to bring players back from injury than sign new ones. Players will only come in as long as others leave."