MADRID, 3 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of CA Osasuna, Jagoba Arrasate, asked to “deserve” being in the final of the Copa del Rey and not go out this Tuesday in the second leg of the semifinals against Athletic Club “to cross our fingers and let the clock run” in a party that he hopes is “different” from that of El Sadar, “with more alternatives”.
“It is a match where there is no turning back and what is happening can mark. I expect a recognizable Athletic at home, which puts a lot of rhythm and goes for the rival, and I hope an Osasuna capable of shaking off that dominance and having the personality of have the ball. We cannot cross our fingers and let the clock tick down, we have to deserve to be in the final, we have to show a great version”, Arrasate assured this Monday at a press conference.
The ‘rojillo’ coach made it clear that he doesn’t care “much” about the current dynamics of the team. “We have had better moments in the season, especially in the offensive phase we are not in the best moment, but this is a historic event where the dynamics do not count for much. We are focused on playing a good game and passing, not on whether we are in best or worst time,” he warned.
The Basque was “extremely grateful” for the support they are feeling, but spoke more about the “mentality” they must have above the emotional aspect. “It’s what we had at Villamarín, where we weren’t classified at any time, with that mental strength that made us come back twice. When the referee whistles you have to do a lot of things right on the green,” said the team’s coach Navarrese.
“Athletic always play the same and the first 10-15 minutes and the following ones will be important, everything can be decisive. We have to be very focused because they play a lot in the rival field and there any mistake can be an opportunity. We also have to force them to to run backwards,” Arrasate explained.
He does not forget that “the last few times” they have visited San Mamés they have become “‘little ones'”. “I would like to see another Osasuna, with personality, with moments of dominance. Surely we will have moments to suffer and roll up our sleeves, but I would like the game to have more alternatives than the two that we have played there. The idea is that we are going 0-0 and go to win”, ensured.
“WE WANT TO PUT THE COVER”
“The first leg was a very even match and I expect a different match in San Mamés, with more chances and more alternatives,” continued the man from Berriatua. “There are more chances of reaching extra time. I prefer to go with an advantage, but it’s not definitive and I don’t think it’s going to alter the initial game plan. I haven’t thought about what percentage we have (if we go through), if we play a good game, it increases “, he pointed out.
The ‘rojillo’ coach knows that they have had a “great Cup”, but that they want to “put the icing on the cake”. “It is a historic event, in more than 100 years it has only happened once. I am proud of everything that surrounds Osasuna and also responsible because we can make all those people happy,” he said.
The Biscayan remarked that “marking is as important as not fitting in” and confessed that he is going to sleep “perfectly”. “More than thinking about the final, one dreams, but I still see it far away. We have the obligation to try and the illusion of achieving it, for us this Tuesday is the final,” he stressed.
“They have more experience, but sometimes that is fought from the illusion and ours is great,” he added, recalling that the hypothetical suffering is “different because it is for something historical.” “Today, Monday, two colleagues have fallen, we are going to try to relativize,” he sentenced in relation to the dismissals of Diego Martínez and Pacheta at Espanyol and Valladolid.
Finally, Arrasate celebrated having a dressing room that “does not get carried away by euphoria or dramatizes defeats” and gave no clues about an eleven that has already “clear” as the plan and “decided” who will be the right back. “‘Chimy’ has not been able to train and has only done the first part of the warm-up. He is coming to Bilbao because I want everyone to be there because it is a historic event and he has done a great job for wanting to help us, we will assess whether it is the discard or he goes to the bench. All are going to be important from the morning”, explained on the Argentinian forward.