Pablo Machín in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán's press room

First team

MACHÍN: 'MADRID WILL COME PREPARED AS THEY KNOW THEIR RECORD HERE'

25/09/2018

The manager evaded once more the debate regarding playing with one or two strikers: 'What's important is the balance in the team and the alternatives to our initial plan'

Pablo Machín knows what the Nervión means. Before Real Madrid's visit, he knows that the fans will play a part in his plan: 'The most important people are the ones out on the pitch, but we've always said that the fans help and play as well. The fans are our twelfth man, and in days like tomorrow they'll be even more important to push us on to win.' After such an offensive lineup on Sunday, the coach knows that there is no room for slip-ups: 'We're affected by the injuries and the other day we put our money on more attacking players giving us an advantage. It's true that we had chances and were clinical, but we also allowed the opponent opportunities. Whatever you do, Madrid will have chances. We have to be strong in our duels because they have a lot of strength and we have to try to prevent their quality from showing so that we can get the win. That's the plan, but during each game there are many different phases and we have to make the most of our own.

The debate regarding playing one or two strikers was raised again: 'You can say that you're playing with one or two, but equally if you play with one the players behind will therefore be more offensive than if you play with two strikers. You always have to look for the right balance, because when you are in control or launch a counter, it's important to know which players you're counting on. We need to have an initial plan of action and then have alternatives depending on how the game is going. I'm not sure it's a good idea to play your last card right from the off, especially when they were able to rest players this weekend. We have to see how our recovery has went and I have an idea of it, but I need to see how everyone is and who can give us the best performance.

'We have to see how everyone is and who can give us the best performance'

Banega's role, without reducing in importance, seems to have changed in the last weeks: 'We speak about Gonalons' absence a lot but it really is a blow. We brought him in to be an important player for us, in this defensive midfield role that we don't have, and then Amadou got injured as well who could have played in a similar position. We have Roque Mesa and Banega and if the Argentine is resting a lot it's because he's playing a lot. He's willing to help out in many roles, but we all know his profile of conducting the play. Everyone is ready to minimise the effect of the injuries and give what is asked of them

After their big win in Valencia, Machín was asked about Vaclík: 'I have been impressed by him ever since he arrived. He is great to have as our last line of defence. He's putting in good performances and on Sunday he saved that penalty which was crucial. In many matches, he has been there when we needed him and he has demonstrated every day with his attitude and personality that he has his feet on the ground and that he wants to continue growing here.' Furthermore, he ruled out the immediate return of Mercado: If our lives were on the line, yes, but the surgeon would kill us if anything happened to him. The arm doesn't stop him from training with everyone else, but we have to stick to the timeline given to us.

'Mercado can train with everyone else, but we have to stick to the timeline given to us'

He also referred to a chat he had with Lopetegui in which they spoke to each other informally about their footballing plans: 'Who would have thought that we would be facing each other a year later. I think both of us would have loved to do it, but theories and ideas are different from reality. Everyone should know that the players are the protagonists and their quality is the difference between winning or losing. The coaches help, but the players are the ones who are on the pitch.'

Finally, he spoke about Real Madrid's problems in Nervión in recent years: That gives us confidence. When a team faces Real Madrid there's a sense of respect, but the statistics show that we have won 10 of the last 17 matches here. They will come prepared because they know what this is all about and in this match, we will see who can be more clinical, which will determine the outcome.'