Toché: “We believe in what we are doing”

Real Oviedo forward, José Verdú Nicolás “Toché” appeared in the Press Room today following the team’s training session at El Requexón.

Having made his return to action following surgery on his knee, the striker admitted that, “I am happy to be back training and able to return to the team. I really want to help the team out. It’s great to come in when we are in great form and I will try to help out when the Coach asks me to.” With respect to his absence and how he dealt with his recovery period, Toché stated that, “there are lonely moments in the gym. It’s tough. Everything went well though, and my knee is perfect. I had previous experience of meniscus problems. We couldn’t rush it, and it just happened to coincide with the Winter Break. We managed it well, being cautious, and now I just need to get match fit. I will push as much as possible to get into the team.”

Regarding the importance of training in a footballer’s recuperation, the Carbayón forward highlighted that “they are very important. I have to find my rhythm and sharpness, and the matches help with that.”

Asked about the team’s performance during the first half of the season, as they ended the first set of the season’s fixtures in third place, Toché believed that, “it was a spectacular first half of matches and we are in very good form. The team is going into games with a lot of confidence and we are finding our way of playing. The important thing is that we believe in what we are doing and go into the second half of the season with confidence.”

Real Oviedo begins the second half of the season by visiting Vallecas to face Rayo Vallecano. Talking about the trip to Madrid, the attackers argued that, “Huesca and Vallecas are two of the hardest trips of the season, but we are proving that we always turn up. Rayo play good football, combine well, and know what they are playing for. However, we are different than we were in the first half of the season, and have our ideas clear. Based on this, we are going to Vallecas to win, knowing that if we win then it will put the pressure on the teams above us. We are going to keep going.”

When asked whether this was the finest run at Real Oviedo since he arrived three years ago, Toché responded by saying that, “we had various unbeaten runs, but with respect to the play and the atmosphere, with the fans behind us, this is the best spell.”

Finally, regarding his relationship with Miguel Linares and how competition for places may affect the group, the attacker pointed out that, “our relationship couldn’t be better. When he was on the bench he was an excellent teammate, and now it’s my turn. I’ve always believed in him, he’s the best in the league. Now it’s my turn to put pressure on him and wait for my chance. Competition is good for the team,” he concluded.