Real Oviedo Head Coach Cuco Ziganda appeared in the Press Room at El Requexón ahead of the clash against Sporting de Gijón.

The Gaffer began by evaluating the condition in which Real Oviedo goes into Saturday's encounter at the Carlos Tartiere. "The team is doing well. Marco (Sangalli) has been able to train with everyone else. He's not ready for ninety minutes, but we hope to have him available to be in the matchday squad. We have doubts about Pierre (Cornud), but there's a couple of days until the match and we will wait. We are more optimistic about Marco than about Pierre."

Asked about how the team is dealing with this week, the Coach admitted that "you can breathe in the footballing atmosphere from Monday, it's bursting. Everyone is encouraging you and sharing their excitement about the match with you. You have to be here to feel what it is. From the outside you don't feel what we experience here; it's special. What you feel off the pitch is felt on it, it's contagious in a positive sense. The fans are looking forward to watching it in the ground and the players can feel that. I believe there is a union of fans and the team, with the aim of beating your neighbours. We know the rivalry there is and we live it. We know it's a different match, but we are going to approach it in the best way possible and put in a complete performance on all levels."

With respect to his good record in derbies, the Coach highlighted that "there are teams that you have positive results against; they are statistics. It's not just the coach that plays a derby, though, but also the fans and the players. It's not just the coach, the players are more important. How the Real Oviedo fans live it at 100% shows us the importance of giving 100%. Saturday's match has nothing to do with the previous derbies, but we are excited to get the win, for the club, for the city, and for the fans."

Asked about Sporting player Babin's comments, in which he described how they were approaching the fixture, Ziganda believes that "they are respectable. I want to think it was a way of expressing the way they are seeing the match, and that it's not really the end of the world or a Champions League final. It's very important for us to get the three points for our fans. They show us the excitement, the hunger and the rivalry. We take it onto the pitch with us and we will try to do so in the best way possible."

Regarding what he is expecting from Saturday at the Carlos Tartiere, the Gaffer highlighted that "in even, tight matches, that moment of taking your chance or staying calm and solid is key. The form of both teams is different this time than in previous derbies, and we will see who is capable of putting their ideas in place more effectively. The mental aspect has an influence, as does staying firm and making the most of good moments. We have to keep control and press well. We want to play in their half and have weapons to be able to attack them. Both teams will have spells, we both have strengths, and we will see who is more on their game and gets it right."

Finally, in light of Sporting's rejection of away tickets for the match, Ziganda stated that "you want derbies to be as normal as possible, with rivalry and spark, and the fans defending their city, their colours, and their values. Derbies with colour are much better, with songs and support. They bring something to the match. I'm not going to get involved with others' business. It's up to them."