Celades: "I hope that we can dedicate a victory to all of our fans"

Albert Celades gave his first press conference back ahead of Friday night’s derby against Levante UD, and commented on the break in the season, playing behind closed doors and much more besides.

A gradual return to normality

I think that it’s what’s happening with all of us; we don’t know what’s going to happen and it’s new terrain for us. We don’t know what we are going to encounter and how we are going to react after three months since our last official game. We’ll be playing this one without any friendly for preparation. It comes after all that we’ve been through: The lockdown that we’ve all experienced in different ways in terms of fitness training, with some players in houses where they can do more, and others in flats where they couldn’t run for almost 2 months. It’s been a new situation for everybody. There is great uncertainty about what we are going to encounter, but we are very excited to play again. We want to finish the season in the best way possible -and we’ve tried to prepare as best we can to be able to come into tomorrow’s game able to compete and win.”

Playing behind closed doors

“It is true that we have that experience (against Atalanta), although it was not a good experience because of everything that happened in the game. I don't know how it might affect us. The support of our fans is very important. I think that it’s one of the reasons why we are unbeaten at home in the league. Playing with no fans in attendance isn’t the best thing -for us or for any team. We would have loved to have been able to play in front of our supporters, but in these circumstances we will try to have a great game, dedicate it to the fans and tell them that even though they obviously won’t be there, we feel their presence and support. I hope that we can dedicate a victory to all of them tomorrow.”

How the game will go

“Levante UD have a very daring style of play, and normally they have very open games, with a lot of attacks and chances. Tomorrow we will see an open game, with two teams who want to score goals. Hopefully we can take our first victory back.”

Working on defence

“We discussed this situation in the previous press conferences. We have conceded more goals than we would have liked, due to different circumstances. In this time we have done specific individual work by position and in groups. We have had a big focus on defensive work, because if we want to be high up in the table that is the main thing to improve. We are aware of this.”

Happy with the reaction in training

“We are very happy with the fitness work that the players did during the lockdown. Maintaining the tension of the training sessions was not easy and the response of the players was magnificent. We had to maintain discipline because there was not going to be too much time to prepare. Their predisposition, attitude and intensity has been very good. We have not played a single match, not even a friendly. Training is not the same as playing a game in a real situation. We appreciate the predisposition of the players, both at home and here at the training ground.”

Dani Parejo

“Dani is a unique footballer. Before this break he had played every game and was performing very well. He had played more than we would have liked due to the absences that we had. We have eleven games coming up in a short time and we are going to need all of the players. Dani is our captain and represents a lot both on and off the pitch, and when he needs to rest we have alternatives to stand in for him.”

Maxi Gómez’ return from injury

“Maxi was injured just before the break, underwent surgery, worked very well at home and came back here. He reintegrated into the team and feels good. He’s available to us like any other player, is performing to the fullest and we could be lent a hand by his participation.”

Gonçalo Guedes’ chance to shine

“The difficulty that Guedes has had this season is a lack of consistent game time, which is something that we decided. We thought that he could perform better, and after his recovery he struggled to get back into the team off three months out. He has done a wonderful job and this break has allowed him to get back in shape. We have big expectations for him, because he has huge potential.”

Atalanta coach Gasperini’s comments about having COVID-19 symptoms

“I think that it’s simple. If it were confirmed -because he later added a caveat to what he had said- then anybody who believed they could have the virus and infect somebody should have told the doctors.”