Jagoba Arrasate was on pre-match media duties for our game against Atletico Madrid. Find out what he had to say below.
On casualties: The team is fine, we've had a good week. After the last blow, we are looking forward to tomorrow's match. We know it's a big challenge against a very good opponent and we need to play a practically perfect match. It is true that we have some absentees apart from Omar, who is suspended, Maffeo was in pain and we have decided to stop, Antonio also has a small muscular problem and a little bit of accumulation in that position of the midfield with the absence of Morlanes as well. We will try to put together a competitive eleven, I think that in midfield we may lack that profile of a more defensive player, but we have players and we'll see how tomorrow's game goes.
On the defensive line: It is a possibility, in Villarreal we already did it in the second half and we already commented here that in the second half we could use it more occasionally away from home against strong teams to better defend the width and well, it is one of the possibilities we have, yes.
On Vedat Muriqi: He is the first who is aware that he can contribute more. In the end, when a player can contribute more, you have to demand more from him and I also have to ensure that the ecosystem is ideal for him to perform. He is a much loved player here, for all that he contributes, for how honest he is and we hope that Muriqi has a better first season than the first one.
On improving on offense and defense: As a coach I give equal importance to both. I think today is January 31 and I hope this month is over. It is true that we have conceded goals but it is also true that we have not scored them. In some games we have had options, but, well, our offensive performance has not been as good as I would like it to be. We need to improve globally to be more competitive and from there to achieve victories.
On the month of January: On a psychological level we are fine because whenever you come from a defeat you do a week and face the next game you always think you can win. We have that illusion, that hope of being able to cut this bad streak in one of the most complicated scenarios.
On Atlético de Madrid: I think they have a lot of records. Here they played a 4-4-2 and at times they had a line of 6. They defended on the outside, they took advantage of a mistake of ours very well and took the game. He has the possibility of showing different registers, of adapting to the opponent as well and if there is something they have this year is that they are holding on to the games and in different contexts they are capable of being decisive, fighting in La Liga, among the best eight in Europe and they are also alive in the Copa del Rey. They are having a great season and that indicates the level they are showing.
On RCD Mallorca he wants to see: I would like to recover the essence we had in the first round. I think we have been a resolute team, even away from home as well. We are fighting to see that version of Mallorca and besides, in this kind of matches we need skill and concentration to get a good result.
On the transfer market: I consider it closed, I don't expect many movements, it ends on Monday, I'm focused on tomorrow's match and we'll see what happens between now and Monday, but I don't expect many movements either.
On the return of David Lopez: The first thing is to thank Burgos CF because I think they have managed to get the kid to come in better conditions than when he left. He has had a great first half of the season, he has played, he has grown and that is thanks to him but also partly thanks to Burgos CF. They were informed some time ago that if Siebe left we were going to buy back David and I like him a lot. I already liked him in the preseason and I think he is a center back for the present and the future. I understand that now you can see him as a fourth center back, time will tell. He is also delighted to be in the team of his homeland and also having him now in the second round I think we can advance with him that process of seeing him, working with him and putting him in. I have high hopes for him.
On Jan Salas and Dani Luna: We have Samu Costa, Dani and Sergi who can play there in midfield, but yes, Jan Salas I see him ready depending on how we play, he can even be a change and that is why he is traveling, he is not traveling to be a lump but he has many options to make his debut tomorrow. With Dani Luna we are in the situation that there is an option but it has to be good for the club and for him. In the meantime he is with us but the idea was that he could leave and enjoy minutes. We will see if there is any news between now and Monday.