Pedro Martins’ Press Conference
“It is important that the side shows consistency and steadily performs well; we can say we are ready. We have one week to improve certain things. It is very important that on such a date, July 16th, so many fans came to watch the team. People comes because of their belief in the squad and to watch us give a good performance. We are on the right path to follow up on what we started last year and we want to attain our goals.
I am very satisfied by Avraam and Semedo and, all in all, by every player, both old and new; this also includes Ba who is a young lad, already fully acclimatized. We knew that Valbuena is a player of top quality, who can offer our team a lot and we are more than pleased with him being able deliver this role. It is our task to find players to cover the gap left by Fortounis. We have also tried Bruno and Masouras as well, during practice. There will be moments we want to use a 4-4-2 formation, with 2 strikers and we have to sign more players.
Apart from winning, which means a lot, the most important thing –and we like that a lot- is that the team is absolutely organized? After the break, we lost out touch a bit due to the substitutions. We want to keep playing well and deliver that also in the Czech Republic.”.
Words in Guerrero:
“I am really satisfied with our side’s performance. I feel absolutely ready. I feel super fit, I feel mentally very strong and I am ready to give my 100%, as all my teammates, to kick off this season in the best way.
In the dressing room, we were all looking forward to this moment, to perform “at home” before our fans. We are very happy to be back here, together with our supporters, in order to start the year in style. Always, there are things a team may improve, yet I believe we are in great form. In all friendly matches until today, we played well and i think we are ready to start the season in the best possible way.
Not having Kostas Fortounis with us is heavy. He is so important for us on the pitch and in the dressing rooms. However, I reckon that, since these things happen in football, we are ready to confront this problem. With everyone’s support during recovery, he will return even stronger. We want him to be happy and healthy. Until that moment, the team has many players to fill his shoes and to keep our strong momentum until his return”.
