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Diego Martínez: “It will be a highly demanding match”
The coach looks ahead to Saturday's crucial clash with Celta de Vigo
Diego Martínez recognises that every match is difficult but asserts his confidence in the team, ahead of the match against Celta de Vigo on Saturday.
RCD Espanyol take on the Galician side in the last match before the international break, and with the LaLiga table remaining as tight as ever, it is a must-win at the RCDE Stadium. The coach addressed the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Martínez said, “Celta are in a good moment, they are in a good trustworthy state. It will be a very complex match, very difficult, against very talented and quality players. It will be a highly demanding match. I trust the team. I think we are competing well and getting better and better”.
He continued, “We have to be competitive against teams that are in a great moment or that have been playing together for a long time. Tomorrow is another one of those important matches. The fans have understood this and will be with the team, they always give us a boost”.
Celta are the opponents that lie ahead, sitting in 11th and in a decent run of form this month. Their meetings this season have been tight; the reverse league fixture ended all square with a last-minute equaliser for Espanyol, and the Mágico needed extra time to overcome the Galicians in the Copa del Rey.
Speaking on Celta, the coach said, “They arrive at the best moment of the season and, arguably, of the entire calendar year. However, I am confident about this team since the restart from the World Cup break. We are much better and we are really looking forward to this game, but we have to show our best version”.
Finally, regarding Joselu's call-up to the Spain national team, he acknowledged, “It is a great joy for everyone. Joselu exemplifies an idea that we have been discussing all season. When you give yourself honestly and humbly to the team, it pays off. He is a great example to us all. And we must appreciate him”.