Javi Gracia gave an extensive pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, looking ahead to the Saturday 4pm CEST kickoff against SD Huesca. The coach said that “I see a team who work hard every day, who are confident in what they do and face games united. This gives me confidence in us taking good results in the coming games.”

The game against SD Huesca

“We’re going up against a good team who are very daring. They went at Villarreal and had a good game against them, for example, and had a chance to win right until the end. They are going to be demanding of us. We aren’t expecting a team who are coming up from the division below. They are a great team who are where they are on their own merit. We have to focus on ourselves, on improving our defence as a team, try to concede fewer goals, and from there have more of a chance of winning games.”

Avoiding conceding early

“We have to correct that. It isn’t just the case this season, but also in preseason. Besides the final result, there are the turnovers at the start of games, such as one that we gave to Denis Suárez the other day in Vigo. These are situations that we prepare for according to our opponents, and Huesca press high. We’ve prepared some different ways of starting the game, so that we don’t concede or suffer after losing the ball.”

Concerns about SD Huesca

“They are a brave team who aren’t going to come here to park the bus. We have to be ready for an open game, because they try to play out from the back, stretch you and get into the box with a lot of players. They don’t give up possession and we know that we have to defend well when required. They have quality, link up well, have fullbacks who play deep, are good from set pieces… They are going to compete well, I’m sure, and we have to try to improve defensively and take the initiative. We don’t want to make the game easy for them from the start, making the rest of the match so hard for us. Let’s see if we can control the game and make that count.”

Tactical variations

“I think about that, and evidence of this is how we modified Wass’ position during the game in Vigo. I look for alternatives with the players that we have. Defensive problems aren’t just down to those at the back, nor the goalkeeper. We have the task of improving collectively, and we will try to make different methods work. I will try to find the best balance for defensive improvement and for generating chances in attack.”

Possible rotations

“Some of the players who are coming back from injury could help us, but honestly I think that we are going to be using practically the same players. The 23 players in the squad for this game will be practically the same as for the other two games in this run. It’s interesting to rotate and to bring in fresh players, because we have little time for recovery. I am looking at this option in order to compete better.”

Kevin Gameiro

“He’s been training normally for the last few days. He is going to be an important player for the next game and for the future. He has proven quality, and skills that maybe we don’t get from other strikers. I’m sure that he is going to contribute a lot over the course of the season. I am confident of that.”

The possible need for new players

“The squad morale is good. I watch them train and compete, and their morale is good. There is no doubt, however, that strengthening the squad would make us all feel better. We would see more chances and possibilities of competing better. It would help us to grow as a team, and not just because of what they bring; there is also how they could improve the players who are already here. Right now we are focused on the next game, but the players are looking good and are tremendously motivated to win the match.”

Transfer activity

“I’m not up to date with the possible negotiations with players, to be honest. I will be confident about players coming in until the final day. I have enough to worry about with the three games that we have in a week. I am focused on getting the best out of this squad and I prefer not to talk about specific names of players who aren’t here, and who I don’t know will be our players in the future.”

“I can’t be satisfied with the fact that players have left and others haven’t come in; that’s easy to understand. I also have the hope and the confidence that in the remaining time we will have players join. At the end of the transfer window we will see what our squad is like, and I will focus on my job.”

“A while ago we analysed the situation with the squad, and there were a series of positions that were indispensable. The club know that and are working on it. I am confident that something will become concrete in the coming days. The process of bringing in players is going slowly, and five games will have gone by before the close of the market. I can’t name names, or positions, which I think is obvious. I don’t think it’s worth talking too much about it.”