SAMPAOLI: "LINARES ARE A MUCH MORE ROUNDED TEAM THAN OUR TWO PREVIOUS CUP OPPONENTS"

Jorge Sampaoli has given his first press conference of 2023, on the eve of the Copa del Rey Round of 32 tie against Linares Deportivo. 

To begin, he spoke about the team's return to competitive action after the mid-season break.

"We're at a stage which comes after some very good preparation, we put in a lot of work and the number of available players allowed us to organise ourselves differently. Now, it's time to put that into practice in pure competition, with players who were at the World Cup and those who are recovering."

"Sometimes, when players come back to a team who are already settled, ready and trained in a certain way, you have to try to use them in a way that it does not affect the team's performance."

Next on the agenda was Loïc Badé, who has signed an agreement in principle to join the club, and Lucas Ocampos, who is linked to a return to the club.

"When he arrived he had a muscle issue, so according to the doctor, we can have him training with us on Thursday or Friday. I've seen and greeted him, but we haven't had him training because the doctor said he can't train yet."

"Every time someone mentions a name I say the same thing. With this club's hierarchy, which has been very successful throughout the club's history, I do not take part in choosing players."

"What I do is select profiles of players, so we can analyse Lucas on the attacking front. I know him, I saw him play a lot at Marseille and his first season at Sevilla, where he was crucial."

"The sporting management team will decide if his arrival is a possibility or not. We've spoken with Monchi about lots of options, including Lucas because he is our player, but based on the team's needs and space in the squad, there are things to resolve and I'm sure that the department will do it well."

Sampaoli then commented on tomorrow's opponents, a fellow Andalusian side in Linares Deportivo, and the pressure that comes with the team's current situation.

"They are a much more rounded team than our two previous cup opponents, both in terms of fitness and ability. It's a tough place to go and I'm sure they'll try to make us uncomfortable if we aren't completely aware of the sort of match we'll be facing, and the circumstances that come with it."

"There are some players that really feel the pressure, some don't. This is a team where we've had to bring in players from the reserve side, we weren't able to call upon an ideal number of players in Vigo for such an important match."

"As coaches, we have to know that we're here to bring peace of mind, by making things work in a way that allows us to have a starting point. If an individual turns up that helps us get points on the board, it'll be easier and that will give peace and mind to those who start, those who are progressing, and ourselves."

"You train to win and the matches are won by the players. In this profession the coach is overrated and in this context, when we coaches match up with players of that calibre, we will be successful. If we don't, we probably won't."

"Rafa Mir had muscle fatigue in Vigo and I don't think he can take part tomorrow"

The Argentine then spoke about the idea of attacking reinforcements during the transfer window.

"For that position, it's always important that it's a player who can settle in quickly and joins as soon as possible to fit in with the group. If it's a player who's compatible with our system, then he's welcome."

Speaking of attackers, he stated that Rafa Mir is unavailable for tomorrow's match.

"Rafa Mir had muscle fatigue in Vigo and I don't think he can take part tomorrow. He could be back with the team on Thursday."

"We are looking for different positions for the strikers so that they can be more clinical in front of goal. We have to make sure they're in a position to shoot. If they're not scoring, sometimes it's to do with the style of play."

"When everything is rushed, the strikers don't receive the ball in the right place and it makes shooting uncomfortable. We're working towards that comfort and for them to improve their output. That situation has made the team suffer from the position they're in."

The coach is fully aware of the importance of Wednesday's match, but also Sunday's.

"There will be rotation. To be honest, tomorrow is very important and decisive. I'll try to use the best players I have but I'm also thinking about another important match at the weekend, and there are players who have a harder time recovering. Those players will be rested."

To finish, he spoke about whether he is at all concerned with players coming and going in January.

"In a way I'm a bit uneasy, but it gives me the chance to build something new. We have to work with what we have, improve what we have, and the best I can do each day is count the players I have, set up the best training session possible and try to get the team out of this situation. The rest of it is beyond me."

"I can offer my opinion or feel uncomfortable, but it doesn't do me any good. I feel that there's been an improvement and that makes me happy. Whether it will be enough to win games is something that the players will decide and that's what I'm preparing them for."