Preparation against an unknown opponent: “We have access to all the games that Guijuelo has played and we have prepared them exactly the same as those in the League. We give them the same importance. We must offer the players more information because they are a more unknown rival. It is the traditional Second team. B. He is very dominating. He has not lost any game and at home they have only scored one goal. It is not easy to get used to the idea of a game, but we will go with the utmost respect for the opponent “.
What do you ask Rayo for this duel ?: “Do our good and that whoever comes out does it with maximum concentration. We have the experience that every year there are surprises in the first rounds. Last year, against Teruel, we spent in extra time. We know what kind of match. awaits us, on artificial grass, very cold … We must leave prepared for what we are going to find “.
Importance of the Cup, its fetish competition: “Yes, I have never hidden it. The Cup is very beautiful, it is played differently because if you lose you go home and that makes you risk more. It is a different football. It has given me a lot as a coach and player, so I have affection for him. “
Maximum respect and attention until the last minute: “These first two rounds are your turn to play against lower-category rivals, but my experience (even with Mirandés) is having gone through them with some extra time. The higher-category team usually passes, but usually suffers. We have to be willing to do well. things and run the game as well as possible. “
Rotations thinking about Espanyol: “We have not yet decided on the line-up, but the Espanyol game is not played even 72 hours later, it is sixty-odd … We have had bad luck. We play Thursday and it does not leave us much margin neither to rest nor to prepare the next duel. We’ll think about both dates. “
Do you have Falcao? Are there casualties?: “Casualties are practically the same as in Mestalla. We are going to recover Mario Suárez, who could not go to Valencia, but the rest is difficult for him to come.”
Canteranos: “I have seen them very well. You can see that enthusiasm and that desire to do well. Some will travel with us. We already did it last season. We trust that if they have the opportunity they will do it just as well as in the previous edition.”
El Guijuelo, first challenge of his favorite tournament
The Copa del Rey is Iraola’s fetish competition. Wearing the Athletic shirt, he played three finals (2009, 2012 and 2015), all of them with a common denominator: he faced Barça and ended up losing. The latter was also the end of his career as a lion. Already being a coach, the KO tournament served him to hit the table with the recently promoted Mirandés (Real Sociedad eliminated him in the semis, after having left Coruxo, UCAM Murcia, Celta, Sevilla and Villarreal by the wayside) and to consecrate with the Ray (Barcelona threw him in the round of 16, after having imposed on Teruel, Haro and Elche).
Now, for its premiere in this new edition, the franjirrojo coach will not be able to count on the Merquelanz, Pathé Ciss, Nteka and Falcao headdresses. Of course, he recovers Mario Suárez and Trejo, who were not at the Mestalla. It is the time of the less common and the homegrown players. The central Gimeno, the winger Iker Recio, the winger Aguirre and the pivot Manu Navarro await their opportunity before a Guijuelo, who, due to the demand for tickets, has installed an additional stand in the South Fund. There is hope and it is not for less, the chacineros are leaders of group 8 of Tercera RFEF, with eight wins and six draws. They have scored 30 goals and have only conceded 7.
With Espanyol looming – only 65 hours separate the cup match from the league -, Iraola will bet on the rotations to give a break to five of his fixed: Dimitrievski, Balliu, Catena, Fran García and Álvaro. All of them fall from the call of 22. The franjirrojos have worked this week on artificial grass to get used to the field of a rival who promises to fight and surrender in search of the bell.