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Moreno: "Ponferradina are amongst the most difficult opponents"
The coach warns that Tuesday's opposition will provide a challenge in the Copa del Rey
RCD Espanyol continue their Copa del Rey campaign this Tuesday, and coach Vicente Moreno set his sights on victory against Ponferradina in his pre-match press conference.
"Last year they had a great team, and they have strengthened it yet further. We're up against a side who are amongst the most difficult that we could have been drawn against. We know their level and we know the difficulty that the game will have," he warned.
"We know them well, and they have a coach who is doing a fantastic job. They had a great team last year, and new players like Naranjo, Sergi Enrich, Yuri and Paris explain why the season is going the way it is."
"We've already forgotten about the win against Valencia CF last Friday at Mestalla. Life goes on. The most important thing today is the Copa del Rey. We are facing it with confidence, security and excitement."
Asked whether he would be fielding more first team regulars in his cup lineup after the LaLiga win this past weekend, he responded that "One thing has nothing to do with the other. The other day we were thinking exclusively about Valencia CF, and now we are thinking only about the cup. What we have been doing in previous games will not change. We always pick the team that we believe is best for the circumstances, and that is what we will do tomorrow -with the intention of going through."
Making headlines for his showing in his LaLiga debut was Jofre Carreras, and Moreno was asked what he expects from the young talent.
"We need not to go crazy. Last year we expected a lot from him, and it didn't all work out, because he had problems and eventually decided to undergo surgery. He hasn't even been able to feature consistently for the youth team. We have to take things calmly and not ask more of him than we should. He isn't at 100% yet, but what we saw the other day is an aperitif that we all liked."