Real Oviedo Head Coach Sergio Egea appeared before the Press this morning, nahead of the first league fixture of the season.
Feeling “calm” regarding the late incorporation into the squad of some players, the Argentine coach is waiting to find out from the official governing bodies whether Jimmy will be suspended for the first match having received a fifth yellow card in the final match of last season. His team is doing “well,” although he is aware that “everything can be improved on. We will get into a rhythm and matchfit as the games go by and the legs become less tired. I’m happy because the lads form a competitive group. There will be a dedicated Oviedo in every match playing on the front foot, and we’ll see what the results are like.”
Asked about the first opponents of the season, RC Deportivo de la Coruña, Egea stressed his message for the season, saying “if we think that any opponent will be straightforward then we’ll be making a mistake. We have to show them all maximum respect, because if we relax even a little then we’ll struggle.”
In addition, and with decisions still to be made, such as who will start the season in goal, Egea called for the team to “form a system in which we compete in the best way possible, with the players we have available and healthy now.”
The Coach demonstrated his great belief in the players who’ve joined up with the first team from the B team, saying that “they play very good football. They’re becoming great professionals, and I’ll be very calm whoever plays.”
The Argentine coach was also asked about VAR, which will be introduced in the league this season, and he said that “I see it as a step forward and something positive. I think it adds something. It will improve and it’s an important tool for football. Controversy is being eliminated , because there are no mistakes now, where they were perhaps too big a part of football at times.”
On a personal level, Egea admitted that he was “happy to be here. The club is very organised and we make up a very nice work team. I’m all about harmony. Everyone is very professional in their role and we just have to worry about making sure the team puts in the best performance possible.”
The Coach didn’t have much to say about the transfer market, because “I only care about the good group that we have now. We have the group we have and we are very happy with it,” although he did say that “the market is still open.”
Finally, asked about the fixture against RC Deportivo, a side against which Real Oviedo doesn’t have the best record and which is coached by former Real Oviedo Head Coach Anquela, Egea stressed that “it’s not about Juan Antonio Anquela and Sergio Egea facing each other. Dépor and Real Oviedo are playing each other. They are two great institutions. This is a game about the players, we just manage them. Whoever performs the better of the two squads will get the win. We have complete respect for the opponent and for my professional colleague. I don’t care when we face each other. I’m only interested in Real Oviedo, much more than I am about the opponent I’m going to face.”
