Real Oviedo Head Coach Álvaro Cervera appeared before the media today, ahead of Saturday's fixture against Deportivo Alavés.

 

Ahead of another league fixture, the coach began by analysing the state of his squad going into the encounter at Mendizorroza. "We are in bad shape and I'm worried, because a few more players are out now. Javi Mier won't travel and Jimmy probably won't either. The fewer people available for the team, the weaker we are. Dani (Calvo) will travel, but we are going to be cautious."

 

With respect to the work done during the week, having picked up three points against Málaga, Cervera stated that "it's not been a calm week. If you win then you think you can move upwards, and if you lose then you can slide down the table. Tomorrow we are coming up against a team that is coming down from the First Division, that knows how to play in this division, and that knows the way to play football. It is going to be a difficult match."

 

With three matches coming up in seven days, Álvaro Cervera was asked about possible rotation. He replied that "that sounds like Chinese to me! We can't rotate. We are going to put out a competitive eleven, but without thinking any further ahead than the match."

 

Asked about the concepts the team has worked on during this week, the Gaffer highlighted that "they are getting to know me and to know what is important to me. We are a bit more relaxed. The team is showing hunger and training well. We must not commit errors and we are spending a lot of time explaining things so that they take them in."

 

Finally, regarding the way in which his team approaches matches, Cervera reasoned that "there are two parts to football; when you have the ball and when you don't. I have given them a clear message. We have to control our box. We have to be solid in defence and keep clean sheets in order to be able to start controlling the other area."