Real Oviedo Head Coach, Juan Antonio Anquela, appeared in the Press Room at El Requexón following the penultimate training session ahead of Sunday’s home match against CD Lugo.
The Coach began by analysing the state of his team, and how they are going into this latest league fixture. “We go into it in a good state. Obviously, the results haven’t gone with it, but we are working well throughout the week. Now we must carry it onto the pitch. I’m not going to change what I say at all. I want a team that knows what it is playing for, and does so with personality. We are finding it difficult to maintain that for 90 minutes but there is no other option. Football is a battle and you must compete. There is no other way.” In addition, regarding the game against Lugo, Anquela stated that, “we must become a solid team. We have played in different ways, and we haven’t found the key yet. I always imagine how football matches can be won, and to do that the players must be the best out there on the pitch. It’s about looking, analysing, and then picking a system to improve on every day.”
Talking about Toché’s absence and the disruption it has caused going into Sunday’s match, the Coach highlighted that, “it affects us but I’m not going to complain. That’s football. We have had injuries and I haven’t complained. You have to work with what you have available, and we have to give it everything. You can’t cry nor complain. That’s the reality of it. I only hope that it works out well. Toché has suffered a lot with injuries, and it’s worrying. I’m sure he will be ok, and when he returns he will do so with the force that we all want.”
Regarding the state of Verdés and whether he will be available for the CD Lugo match, the Real Oviedo boss said that, “Héctor always wants to play, he is driven and hugely enthusiastic. We must look at things with a cool head. I want him to play, but I want him to be able to do so for thirty matches. We will look after him, and be cautious.”
With respect to the next opponent, CD Lugo, and their fine start to the season, Juan Antonio Anquela said that, “they know what they want. Theyare on a fine run, and are a difficult opponent right now. They know what they are going for, they are patient, and they have very good players. Lugo are earning their right to dream.”
Ahead of the return to the Tartiere, and referring to the atmosphere he expects to see, Anquela believes that, “the fans are experienced and know how things are. The fans have outperformed us, easily. Football is like that. We need patience and to not change. However, we must try to do things as well as possible, and calmly build a team.”
Asked about how he feels personally, the Head Coach admitted that, “I am worried. I can’t be happy; it affects me. It’s hard to explain. In the stadium it doesn’t affect me at all, but I am sad away from the ground. I have been through much worse times, and we always got out of them through unity, patience, and hard work. We won’t change in that area.” In addition, regarding Joaquín del Olmo’s words, in which he declared his complete faith in the project led by Anquela, the Coach said that, “that’s how football is, and everything is about results. What is white today is black tomorrow. I am at the club I have wanted to be at, and I will fight to the death for it. I try to instil my intensity in my players, as that’s my responsibility. Then you have to win, and to do that we must keep working with excitement and desire.”
With regard to the possibility of switching to a system with five defenders, Anquela believes that, “we have a serious problem in that we are conceding a lot of goals. The problem comes from our defensive play. Right from the front we aren’t strong enough. A team must be a team from the first to the last minute. I can’t ask players with certain abilities to do different things. I will choose the footballers who I think can give the team what it needs. We can’t change, even in the hard times. We must lean on the support from the fans, directors and the dressing room. We are the people who must get us moving forward.”
Finally, when asked about his words following the matches in Granada and Alcorcón, in which he blamed a lack of competitiveness from his team, Anquela clarified that, “the word ‘compete’ involves many things. I don’t want to say that my team doesn’t run or doesn’t try. To compete you must play good football, be intense, and be well-organised. You can’t label it as something it’s not. I am trying to make the players see that the key is in their heads, and they must get the job done by hook or by crook. I try to convince them through passion. Sometimes it’s hard, but everything comes with time. I am where I want to be, and I am proud of it. I want to give the people what they deserve, but we are reliant on the ball crossing the white line,” he concluded.
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