MADRID, 17 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The CA Osasuna coach, Jagoba Arrasate, acknowledged that this Saturday they have “an attractive match” against Real Madrid at El Sadar, where he knows that they will have to “be close to perfection defensively” to have options against an opponent who has a Vinicius Jr who is only concerned with “how to defend him and deactivate him”.
“It’s an attractive game for us and for the fans, it’s the league, European and world champion, it’s a difficult challenge, but we face it with great enthusiasm and we’ll also play in cases where we’re feeling good. Let’s see if with our fans, we are capable of winning the game”, Arrasate indicated this Friday at a press conference.
The ‘rojillo’ coach made it clear that they were “not” thinking about the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals at the beginning of March. “I suppose they don’t think about Liverpool either, they won 4-0 on Wednesday and reduce that advantage with Barça. They are used to playing every three days, we expect the best Real Madrid”, he stressed.
In any case, regarding the cup duel against Athletic, he does not hide the fact that playing “a good game and getting a good result” can help them because “the emotional aspect is key” and “it is what allows you to perform better”.
“We have 30 points and we’re doing well, but we have to continue, nothing has finished. We know that Real Madrid is a special game for our people and I’m going to get the best eleven and then get it right with the changes and with the plan against a very tough rival. We have to be true to ourselves and take the game there, if people play with us it will be difficult for them”, he added.
Asked who can play on the right side, he assured that Javier Moncayola was “fine” against Valladolid, but that he must see it well because Vinicius Jr. will come in there, “a tough opponent and one of the most unbalancing players in the League”. “Regardless of who is, the important thing is the collective work to curb their individualities, we need to have a good organization so that whoever plays there is not so exposed,” he explained.
Arrasate also made it clear that he has not “wasted a second” in talking about how to deal with all the controversy that has been generated for a long time around the winger. “What worries us about him is how to defend him and deactivate him, with all the difficulty that this has,” he said.
“WE HAVE TO DO THINGS VERY WELL AND THAT THEY DON’T HAVE THE DAY”
“It’s not the first time we’ve played against him and we have to be very aware of surveillance and help, everything we can do to eradicate issues of racism we’re all in the same boat. Our fans have already shown that they are super respectful and that they encourage to his team. It has never happened to us (to lose focus before a player) and we are going to defend with the sportsmanship that characterizes us”, he settled.
The Osasuna coach insisted that the Madrid team should not feel “comfortable” at El Sadar. “We have to do things very well and they don’t have the day, we need our best version to compete against this type of team. The physical is always decisive, but in this game more because last year we accused that they took us to the exchange. In The physical are also wonders, so it’s important to have the ball to rest and hurt them, almost everything is important,” he said.
“He started strong, but after the World Cup it cost him more and now I see him very well. They know that the important phase of the season is coming and they have accelerated, but I don’t think it has changed. If Benzema doesn’t play I don’t know who will play and something changes with his loss because he is a player who goes down a lot and creates superiority in the middle and the central defenders have no reference. If Rodrygo does it, it is not a clear reference either, “he warned.
And in the middle, he is clear that he is making “a transition, with young people with a different energy”, and that “whoever plays” on the sides, “has a level” and “depending on who does it will be more offensive or defensive “, something that can “change the plan” of your team.
“What doesn’t change is that we need to touch perfection on a defensive level so that they don’t have chances or feel comfortable. He maintains the essence of being very powerful physically, with the ball he can hurt you and if he’s subdued he has the ability to defend and make vertiginous counters. At home sometimes that impulse of wanting to go happens to us and they can be planted in two or three touches because they make transitions well. We must not expose ourselves excessively because they are the best to run behind the back”, Arrasate opined.
“IMPORTANT LOW” OF ‘CHIMY’ ÁVILA
As for his team, he acknowledged that ‘Chimy’ Ávila’s suspension due to suspension is “important because he is playing and is the top scorer.” “It’s one less argument to attack from the right and last year he did damage from there, but we think of other players with other characteristics and that is just as damaging,” he remarked.
The Basque coach confirmed that Lucas Torró “is fine” despite the fact that there has been some training this week in which they have “removed some of his load” and after not having been able to finish several games “for different reasons”. “He has trained well and is fit,” he said.
“In a match with Real Madrid, everything is magnified and he belongs to Barca, but he is very calm and I see him looking forward to it after what happened with Espanyol,” Arrasate replied when asked about the return of winger Ez Abde.