Real Oviedo Head Coach Javi Rozada appeared in the Press Room this morning and analysed the week of training ahead of the trip to face Rayo Vallecano. "Everyone is fit except Edu (Cortina), while Carlos Hernández and Juanjo Nieto are suspended. Grippo has now joined up with training. We are optimistic and in good form going into the match."
Asked about the necessary reshuffle in the defence, the Coach left the door open, because "we have several options, with Coris, Lucas or Sangalli. Sebas (Coris) is an option. We have worked with all three all week. We will decide according to what we believe is best for the match."
With respect to the previous match, Rozada argued that "the result makes it look as if it was an even better performance, but I believe that we had done more in other matches. The difference was that we had fewer chances the other times because the opponents conceded less. There were things to work on. It was a good match, but I believe that our best is yet to come."
Regarding the formation and use of two strikers, the Real Oviedo boss stated that "we went for it the other day because the match called for it. We will play whatever we think best in order to win the match. Whether that's with two strikers, an attacking midfielder behind a lone striker... you will all see on Sunday."
Competition has increased, and Rozada said that "that gives you a boost. Everyone has to compete and I have a lot of options. This helps us to grow day by day. Now we have to make decisions and try to get them right each time in order to win matches. That's what it's all about."
Regarding Rayo Vallecano, the Coach reasoned that "they are a team made for automatic promotion and they have one of the two or three best squads in the division. They don't lose many, but they draw a lot. They are finding it hard to score goals, and we have to try to make the most of them not being on top form. You have to be able to notice that we have more at stake than they do."
Finally, the Coach highlighted that "at the moment, in the table for the second half of the season we are tenth. We have to push upwards. I always said that I wanted us to be among the top six sides during the second half of the season, and that's what I am going to focus on. We have to go to Vallecas with the best possible eleven to win the match, not draw it. To win. That's what we are focusing on."
