Celta coach Giraldez: ‘We need a perfect performance if we have a chance against Real Madrid’
RC Celta coach Claudio Giraldez stated this Saturday, ahead of their visit to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, that his players will need to deliver a “perfect” performance to defeat the current European champions.
“It’s the third time we’ll face them this season, and we already know their potential. If we’re not perfect, we won’t have a chance. They’re coming off a loss in the Copa final, which they were very close to winning. We need to stay focused, show personality, be brave, and be solid in both boxes. That’s crucial against a team with so much talent and the ability to hurt you from nothing,” he said.
During his press conference, the Galician manager expressed confidence that Carlo Ancelotti’s side won’t be affected by their defensive injuries, as they have a “very deep” squad and a “solid” structure.
“Given their attacking potential, not just from the start but also from the bench, it will be important that we maintain our defensive level throughout the game. That’s what cost us in the second half of extra time in the Copa. Here, we’ll have 90 minutes, which is less time than the Copa match, but when we defended well, we were able to compete. When we didn’t, we suffered more,” he recalled.
In this regard, he pointed out that Real Madrid is “extremely powerful” in any scenario, so he isn’t overthinking their recent Copa loss to Barcelona.
“If they had won the final, we’d say they’d come in with confidence. If they lose, they come in wounded… They are one of the best teams in the world. This season, they’ve won two titles, finished runners-up in two others, reached the Champions League quarter-finals, and are fighting for the league. They will always be a difficult opponent,” he said.
Giraldez acknowledged that his team will need to have “the ball for as long as possible” to make the white team suffer, although for him, the most important thing is being solid defensively.
“We know their potential to counter-attack from any loss of possession. They’re also causing a lot of damage with set-pieces. They’re a top world team with all the tools to hurt you. That’s why we need to be perfect and stick to our style of play more than ever,” he concluded.
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