The Press Room at the Carlos Tartiere hosted the official presentation of Simone Grippo as a Real Oviedo player this lunchtime. He was accompanied by Francesc Arnau and Head of Institutional Relations César Martín, with the latter beginning by welcoming him to the club and analysing the fine work done by the recruitment staff during the January transfer window. He also focused attention on Saturday's match against Alcorcón, saying that "the team is going to fight each week to achieve the objective. We are expecting a great atmosphere and the fans to push us on like they always do, and for us to get the three points, which is the most important thing."
For his part, the new signing explained that he had no doubts about joining Real Oviedo when he received Francesc Arnau's call. "It was the final week and I hadn't thought about leaving, but I didn't think about it too much when there was interest and the possibility of coming here. It's a great club. It offered me the chance to participate in a good project and I quickly accepted the challenge." The defender believes that "the team is very much alive. It competes very well, and that's a sign that it's focused. It's a very tough division and it won't be easy, but I am convinced that we are going to get out of this situation."
Asked for his feelings following yesterday's match at Vallecas, Grippo explained that "I saw a very high tempo. Perhaps we lack a bit of calmness in certain situations, but the three points only got away from us because of a penalty given by VAR. I think that we can accept the draw, but three points would have been better. I am sure that we are going to win next weekend."
His teammates have made his integration "very easy", and he believes that the team's defensive standards "involve all of our teammates, beginning with the attackers. We have conceded in the last couple of games, but only from penalties. I've seen a defensively compact side."
Finally, regarding his future, Grippo sees himself having "several years here. That's why I've come here. Miguel Linares has done a lot of publicity work for Real Oviedo and told me fantastic things, and I'm sure that coming to Oviedo will prove to have been the right move. Playing in this stadium as an away player is always difficult, and we have to turn it into a fortress. That's the most important thing."
