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Diego Martínez: “We are at a level of maximum confidence”
RCD Espanyol coach previews Sunday's trip to Atlético de Madrid
Diego Martínez spoke at a pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s match with Atlético de Madrid.
RCD Espanyol travel to Madrid for their penultimate LaLiga match before the World Cup break, keen to pick up another result on the road. Speaking to the media at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque, the coach looked ahead to the weekend and the test ahead.
Martínez said, “The team is at a level of maximum confidence. We would like to have more points so as not to rush at certain times. We have prepared ourselves to the maximum for these kinds of challenges.”
Espanyol have had nine days to focus on the Atlético clash, earning a 1-1 draw at RCD Mallorca in their last outing. This will be the first of three games in six days as the blanquiazules look to finish on a high.
“We are a team capable of competing with any team,” Martínez said. “We trust in our chances. LaLiga is really difficult and very competitive. Atlético have a great squad, a great coach. We aim to take advantage of our chances, and hopefully it can add to our favour, to have stability and a good performance.”
Such is the nature of LaLiga that a win at the Cívitas Metropolitano could move Espanyol as high as 11th. With the battle in the bottom half of the table tight and demanding, a result away to Diego Simeone’s side would be crucial.
Martínez continued, “We are left with the surface and the result, but not everything can be like that. One thing is the result and the other is the performance. I hope our performance will lead us to better results.”
He concluded, “Promising victories and titles would be incoherent and a lie. We cannot guarantee what will happen within a day or after the [World Cup] break. What we can say though is that we are working hard, and we will try to get the results.”