Real Oviedo Head Coach Cuco Ziganda today appeared in the Press Room at El Requexón, ahead of Friday's clash against Racing de Santander.
Zaragoza was a huge step, but now you have to finish the job on Friday. How is the team doing? Was it a calmer week?
- It's been a long week, with more time to prepare and get focused. We took an important step in Zaragoza. We wanted it to be in our hands and we achieved that. If we win then we can forget about all the other results. We have to seal survival on Friday.
Will you approach the match in a similar or a different way to the Zaragoza fixture?
- Humans react in a different way when faced with a situation of urgent need, but we are aware of the match's importance. Right now we are confident and hungry to play and get the three points. We want to confirm our survival.
Ibra is back available. Do you now have the whole squad available?
- Yes, it's great news. They are all healthy, recovered and available. They are all motivated; you can see that in their performances.
When you arrived you said that this challenge would be a race and the battle would feel like agony towards the end. Were you referring to what you are experiencing in these matchdays?
- It's been very difficult, with a lot of important matches. Everybody with an objective is in an agonising race. We have an opportunity this Friday and we are going to go for it.
Do you fear the team will relax at all upon seeing the objective so close?
- No. We have trained well and we are focused. It's been really hard to get it into our own hands, and we mustn't get distracted.
The team has been recovering week by week. Has there been more of a footballing or a mental improvement?
- Both, they go together. If we aren't doing well mentally then it's difficult to compete and turn things around.
Looking back and seeing the statistics that Ziganda's Oviedo has had to put together in order to have matters in their own hands today... Was the situation back then more complicated than we had thought?
- The situation was complicated, but we knew where we were. This is football, we chose to come here, and we haven't regretted it at all. If it hadn't been difficult, they wouldn't have called me.
Are you worried about the fact that since Sunday there has been more talk about your future or possible signings than about the Racing match?
- I'm not involved in that at all. I am not thinking beyond Racing. It's the only thing that occupies my time. We are thinking about Racing and sealing survival 24 hours a day.
In this phase of improvement and group reaction, which of the things done by your players has made you proudest?*
- I couldn't pick just one. The main thing is the group's commitment to the club. Another one would be the composure with which they've dealt with the situation.
There is still one important step which all of your focus is on, but, if it is achieved, how excited would you be to be able to plan a season from scratch with a club like Real Oviedo, without the pressure and demands of these past months?
- Let's talk once we've sealed survival.
