MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Osasuna’s coach, Jagoba Arrasate, has assured that they must “play and compete well to have options” this Sunday against FC Barcelona at El Sadar (4.15 pm), a match in which they will have to be “more cheerful and daring” than in recent meetings, and has stated that although “the score and the role in Europe” say they will face the most affordable Barça in recent years, they should not be trusted.
“It is an important game for us, where we have the opportunity to add, and we hold on to that. We have to improve the game, especially the last few days it is not being the one we like. We need to play and compete well to have options. We are optimistic And when we go to play at home and experience such a beautiful environment, even more so, “he declared at a press conference.
In addition, he recalled that in recent matches they have “competed well”, but “not” they have “played well”. “We have to regain joy in the game, be more courageous. From there we will get to that version that we all want to see, which is competitive and reliable but also attractive. We all have to be a bit more cheerful and daring,” he stressed.
Regarding his rival this Sunday, the Basque coach is convinced that it will affect the fact that he has been eliminated from the ‘Champions’. “Beyond what they can do, I hope the Barça of 15 days ago in Villarreal, who won 1-3 in a very complicated field. They have arguments to win in any field. It is true that they have casualties, it is different, but they do not leave of being a very good team. We respect Barça, but we want to see a good Osasuna too, “he explained.
“It is true that it comes from being eliminated in the Champions League, which has not happened for many years, but it also comes from winning 1-3 at Villarreal. I look at my team and I want to see a brave, upright, challenging Osasuna, let him play with his weapons and try to compete against a good team, “he said.
In addition, he considers that it is “too early” to see differences between Ronald Koeman’s Barça and Xavi’s, although there are “different nuances”. “Both one and the other have not had all the pieces to see which team they want to be, especially due to the casualties. You have to give more time to see that difference between one coach and another,” he said.
On whether it is the most affordable Barça in recent years, Arrasate said that “the score says yes, the role in Europe too, but it is still a team with very good footballers.” “Surely they will need some time to be that Barcelona that has owned LaLiga,” he said.
“It is going to be a round trip, rhythm, with a lot of effort, the 16 who participate will be important,” he said, before talking about the strategy actions. “We have room for improvement; we have to attack better and defend better. The parties are opting for these situations,” he continued.
Finally, the rojillo coach recalled that they always have the “need to win.” “When you feel the need, you give the best of yourself. In this League there is no easy game, but neither is it impossible,” he explained. “I don’t trust myself because if we are not well they will do us a lot of damage. I trust my team, that we do things well, that we do what we have worked for and that in bad times the public helps us”, ended.