Ups and downs. “We are not going to get Luis Milla and Gonalons back for Levante. Quina will not be available because it is in a recovery process. It seems to be going well. Adrián Marín is available understanding that he has had only one training session with us. If that's enough, fine. And if it is not and has to play, then too. In the end, we depend on the excellent predisposition of the player. We hardly have time, what we have practically trained for recovery because the effort on Wednesday was brutal. Even so, those who have to play, as always, will give their maximum and we will compete with full confidence ”.
How is the team emotionally? “I answer with a phrase from my cousin David who called me yesterday. He's from Barça but he wanted us to win. “You have to think more about what you are achieving and less about what has not been achieved,” he told me. That phrase came to me. He congratulated me on what the team did. Having a rival in front of the ropes for 88 minutes that we can compare with an aircraft carrier and us a raft. It did not reach us, but we competed to the maximum even having the 3-2 with Luis Suárez. The team gave everything and with so many casualties. Second year in a row to be in the quarterfinals. This is part of a process and a success. It is not always achieved, but if you have to fall that is the case. Against the club that has won the Cup the most times in Spain and has been in 11 of 12 semifinals in recent years. Nine of the players we took out were in Second Division two years ago and two in Second B. We lacked a little and did not reach us. If there is to be eliminated, let it be this way ”.
Another Levante-Granada after falling in the Cup. “It is not comparable. That March we had fewer games and we arrived in very different circumstances. Not football, life has changed in nine months. We are facing an opponent with very good dynamics, who have reached the semifinals of the Cup with a good technical level. We know how difficult your players above are. We, to play our best game, to compete and believe in the team. Try to solve all these difficulties from the illusion and hopefully with a great result ”.
The goal. “Football is debate and you are here for that. I will continue like these three years, seeing the performance of each player and making decisions from there. There was also a debate that neither Carlos Fernández and Soldado had a goal; that if Montoro the first year and Fede San Emeterio weren't going to endure so many games and they played 36… It is what it is. My criteria as a coach will always be to choose the eleven with whom I think we are closer to victory. I only see the performance ”.
Rui Silva. “Let's not forget everything that Rui has given us and what he will continue to give us. It would be very, very, very ungrateful. I mean the environment, not us. It has given us life, it has been a cornerstone in which Granada has the growth it has had. We are referring to an exemplary guy on and off the field and he will continue to be ”.
Physical state. “Imagine. If you ask me this question, it is because you value that it is so. I have to manage that during the game. This is the difficulty you have. We are who we are and we are who we are. The team is tired, of course there is accumulated fatigue, of course there are many games in the legs, a lot of fatigue. We have given everything we had. And on Saturday we will give everything we have. We do what we can ”.
Midfielder. “The game plan is conditioned because it depends on how we complement our game from the inside against a team with as much interior game as Levante. You do not know how long they will be (he refers to Montoro and Eteki) and move players from position. I have been warning for a long time that we have very difficult circumstances. In the coming weeks it will be very difficult to assemble the team. It is no longer just for the Levante, but for what lies ahead. Hopefully soon they can recover and 'Virgencita, leave me as I am'. I ask the team to come out with the same generosity and conviction and to be effective and believe in ourselves. Our goal is to score the necessary points to stay in the First Division. We are facing a very exciting challenge, a very well placed moment of the season. Our goal is to score the necessary points to stay in First. It was not easy under normal conditions and now more merit is added to what these players are achieving.
The renewal. “I have been very clear on this issue. It is such an unusual year, with so many competitions and games, that all my focus is on getting the most out of the team. At the end of the season it will be time to calm down and sit down and talk to assess the situation. Our focus has to be on football ”.
Emotional hangover. “We will recover by holding on together, as a team, to so many positive things. Everything in life is a process, every adversity makes you improve and grow, learn and feel proud of what you have achieved. In that we are going to support each other. We have an extraordinary wardrobe. One as a coach can only give thanks. Then you can win or lose, but when they give it their all, you can't demand anything more from them ”.