MADRID, 9 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Athletic Club defender Óscar de Marcos made it clear this Wednesday that although Real Madrid, his rival this Saturday in the premiere of LaLiga EA Sports, has not had a great preseason, it is a “reliable team” and that “everything changes” from facing the domestic competition, although he stressed that the team from Biscay is “in a good dynamic” and that playing in San Mamés “is exciting”.
“They have also had difficult games and perhaps they have not had the results they thought in the preseason, but the League is a totally different competition and everything changes,” De Marcos warned at a press conference.
The Laguardia footballer recalled that the Real Madrid team “is a very reliable team” and that it has been “for many years either winning or fighting to win the League”. “He has strengthened himself well and he has also lost some important player. He is a difficult opponent, but in San Mamés he is exciting for everyone and he wants to have a good game”, he commented.
The man from Vitoria preferred “not to say too loud” that up to now he has managed to get out of his duels with the Brazilian Vinícius Jr, who might not play as much on either side after the change of system carried out by Carlo Ancelotti in this preseason. “We don’t know how they will play, but we are prepared for everything. They always have very mobile players and we will have to be very alert for 90 minutes,” said the full-back.
Regarding the preparation of the team for the new season, he stressed that it has been “a bit atypical” both because of the “rest time” and because those who were with the Absolute and Under-21 teams were slow to join. “They’ve had less time, but that also gives them less time to lose form. The team is in good shape and at the pace level we’ve seen ourselves well in recent games. We’ll see how we start, but I think we’re in a good dynamic” , he stressed.
And regarding the objectives for this season, De Marcos does not forget that they have been “many seasons” staying “one step away” from playing in European competition. “That is something that we have to correct. If we all improve a ‘little bit’, maybe we will take that step to enter, hopefully it will be this season,” he said. “Within the squad we know what we want, I have it in my head (to play in Europe), although I always set prudent objectives,” said the winger.
Regarding his renewal for one more season, De Marcos confessed that he was not “clear” if he was going to continue. “I wanted to have a very clear decision. Every year it costs me more and to see the right moment to do it, but last season my individual level even surprised me, I felt very good all year and that ended up helping me make the decision “, he expressed.
“I’ve been believing for years that it could be the last and that mentality has come in handy to enjoy the year and try day after day to see the best of football. And on an individual level, having that demand to continue contributing until the last day and if you then have to Pull the blind, there will be no problem,” he added about his future goodbye.
The footballer will celebrate 500 games with Athletic Club this Saturday. “You are not aware of what you are doing and you don’t stop to think. 500 games is a lot. When I arrived, I saw who had them, some idols and role models for me, and now I’m especially excited to be close to them. I have coincided with many of them and I feel lucky”, he confessed.