Javier Aguirre and Antonio Raíllo were on pre-match media duties ahead of our Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. Find out what the pair had to say below:
Javier Aguirre
On how the team is doing: It is very good. We are very excited because we are in a final without intending to be and without being in our project. We want to compete, win and become champions. We know that it will not be easy, but we are playing for a title, for us this is something historic and we are going to fight for it.
On Omar Mascarell: I will know in a while. If he is not well and does not do what he has to do, he will not be on the bench tomorrow.
On a different pressure to relegation: The pressure is absolutely different. We lost 2-6 against Granada and we were in the second division. We trained at La Cartuja and the match against Sevilla two years ago was a final. To lose that day was to be relegated. Today it's a different scenario. It's true that in the league we have a deficit of points, but this scenario, the fact that you are here and that there is such a great atmosphere, make tomorrow's match even more important.
On speech to the staff: I don't do scripts. I don't know what I'm going to tell them, but I know I'm going to give them tools. We've already talked about what I intend to do in the match and tomorrow we'll sharpen a few things. The rest will be natural.
On a personal feeling: On a personal level, it is very good because I am more relaxed than in 2005 [Copa del Rey Final that he lost in charge of Osasuna]. It is something different on a personal level. On a professional level I have more tools, more experience, more knowledge of the game... and that makes me more confident in my job. That is said with all due respect to Athletic Club.
On what worries you most about Athletic Club: Their speed worries me. They have an impressive quality with the ball on their feet and in space they are lethal. They are dynamic, very intense without the ball, a young team, very hard-working, very humble to run after the ball and then anyone can make a mess of you going forward because they have a lot of quality and are a very fast team.
On providing a surprise: It is difficult to surprise you with something in today's soccer, but I would like to give a joy. Hopefully. We are going to try. Let's not let it be for us. Let's make people proud, whatever the result. If it goes our way, all the better, but if I don't hold anything back, that's already a reason to be happy.
On penalties: I'd like the match to be decided by penalties, but in our favor.
On Martin Valjent: I'm not worried about his weeks of inactivity because nowadays injured players work a lot. With Omar we will see how he works. If he doesn't pass the test, he won't be called up.
On the starting XI: It's very difficult, but as a coach, besides being proud to have everyone in the team, it's better to have this type of problem.
On his renewal and possible call from Mexico: I have not been offered it and I am not waiting for a call from Mexico.
On peace: It is not enough with illusion and tranquility. You have to play well and not make mistakes. You have to play an almost perfect game.
On the emotional management of referees: The team has improved. I got serious. I get irritated by the beak and 90% of the cautions were for the beak.
On his promise: I promise to go to Lluc if we win.
On if he could remove an Athletic player who it would be: Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta.
On what it would mean for Mexico: I am very proud to be Mexican and I understand that there are a lot of people supporting the team I am in. Hopefully in the future more Mexican coaches will come.
Antonio Raíllo
On how he sees the team: I see them very calm. They are very prepared for this match. We have lived through the situation of playing a match not to fail and that pressure is more difficult to bear than the pressure for success.
On the evolution from Segunda B to a Copa del Rey final: I think you have to remember the good times and the bad times. I would like to remember that many teammates have been left by the wayside, from Segunda B or Segunda, and they have been part of this success, and I am very grateful for that.
On Javier Aguirre: He is a very important person. He is a very special coach because he is very close, he has a lot of experience, he treats you like a father would and has everyone involved. He is a very good personal trainer and that is what makes him take his team to where it is.
On potentially playing in Europe: We are going to be calm. Tomorrow there is a very important match and if you don't win, that possibility is erased. Tomorrow we will play, we will do our best and we will try to make people proud of us. I we can win the cup, so much the better.
On feeling if he could score the winning goal: The same as against Granada [he scored the winning goal]. We know the importance of every game we play. This team is a family and if I score, I will be happy, but if a teammate scores it, I will be as happy as if I had scored it.
On the feeling: Emotion for all those who have been with us on this road. On every road there are bumps and stones. As a Mallorca fan we deserve it. We have lived through many difficult moments. We have come out of hell to be able to touch the sky today.
On having more responsibility I have no more responsibility than to go out onto the pitch and play the game I have to play. I think it's just another game against a rival we have already faced. It's important to know what's at stake, but we shouldn't give too much responsibility to that trophy because in the end it can diminish you a little.
On the referee: The referee is the specialist in this. In football there is always contact and he has to decide the limit. [Munuera Montero] He is a referee who deserves to be here. He is a fellow countryman, I have a good relationship with him and I wish him the best.
On his message to the fans: Don't feel inferior to anyone. Surely they have more fans than us, but the feeling will be the same. They shouldn't feel inferior and they should be proud of their players.
On more pressure: I had more pressure in the promotion match to the Second Division. The impact of tomorrow's match is much greater than that one, but it was an obligation. The most difficult matches to play are the ones where you are playing for relegation.
On penalties: If we win, I would go for them.
