Luis García Plaza: ‘Both the squad and staff are very motivated’
The boss looked ahead to our LaLiga curtain raiser against Real Betis at the Visit Mallorca Estadi
Luis García Plaza says he can’t wait for the new season to start ahead of our LaLiga curtain raiser against Real Betis at the Visit Mallorca Estadi on Saturday evening.
Our first fixture of the campaign marks our return to LaLiga, and the boss is keen to get the season off on the right foot against a tough opposition.
"I’m looking forward to the match, as are the squad,” Plaza told journalists at his pre-match press conference. I see the players are already looking forward to playing and getting into the starting XI.
“We are going to see a balanced team, but one that follows a similar style to last season's, but knowing the complications that come with that. We know that we have to press high and defend further away from the box.
“Real Betis has a great squad. They are a team that plays in Europe has to have a great squad – and Betis is that. It will be a difficult match, and we have to make it difficult for them. They have players with a lot of quality like Borja Iglesias, Sergio Canales and Nabil Fekir."
Following the loan arrivals of Take Kubo and Rodrigo Battaglia, the boss says both can add certain attributes to his side.
"Take is a player that I consider across different attacking positions. He has mobility, can unbalance the opposition, play that last pass and I hope he contributes with goals. He has arrived with a lot of experience and very well physically.
“Take is very smart - in the first training session he has already seen the difference between his last spell here and my style. I like Battaglia, we need him in case a central defender gets injured.”