Iraola: “Atlético has many alternatives and an elite coach”

How important is it to win before the break? “It is always important to win, but when a break comes we all like to finish with a good result because we train better. We have eleven games left and we have to play them all to the fullest. You also have to compete against this type of team, just like the We did with Sevilla, because you never know where the points that give you the objective are going to be. We must fight with whoever touches us”.

Is this Atleti more vulnerable in defense than in other campaigns? “It fits more, but not because it has changed or it is defending worse. It is the second team that scores the most goals, the one that scores the most away from home… In the end, this is the balance and it is working out positively. It is getting level victories away, at Sadar, Villamarín, the other day at Old Trafford… and winning with some authority. They have many alternatives and an elite coach. The other day they didn’t start the game well and suddenly they made four adjustments and went on to dominate the situation. We expect a very good team, which is what Atlético has been in recent years”.

Casualty balance: “The injured are the same: Unai López, Saveljich and Falcao. Regarding Merquelanz, it is a complex issue. We do not expect to have him in the near future. He has begun to do more things, but it is a serious injury and it is going little by little I don’t know if we’ll have him before the end of the season. We have to burn stages, but he’s not close to being with the group”.

State of the lawn: “I don’t know exactly how it’s going to be. The gardeners and LaLiga have recommended that we not train there during the week to try to get it to the best possible shape. It interests us all. In March or April the pitches tend to get better, It’s not so cold anymore. I trust that little by little we will have a lawn in better condition.”

Keys to win: “Competing well, which for us is following the line we had against Sevilla. Atlético doesn’t concede much and forces you to defend well. In the end we have to neutralize their threats a bit. Don’t make mistakes and give our forwards options” .