Raúl: “We're looking forward to getting the season underway”
“We've worked hard and are looking to put in a good performance, compete and hopefully pick up a win', said the Castilla coach.
Real Madrid Castilla get the official season underway this Saturday at the Alfredo Di Stéfano with the first league match in Group I of the Primera REEF against Linense 7.30pm CEST. In his third season in charge of the Madrid reserve team, Raúl González evaluated the team ahead of their opening game against the Andalusian side: "We've worked hard. We've played some very demanding matches against good teams. We're all excited and looking forward to getting going and seeing what shape the team is in. We're playing our first game at home and are looking to put in a good performance, compete and hopefully pick up a win, that's what we're aiming for".
"You have to be a star player at Real Madrid. A lot of players are afraid of failing or making mistakes, they stop trying to do things and I try to convey to them that they can make mistakes many times but that shouldn't stop them trying. Our opponents' expectations and identity are really high and that's going to require us to be totally focused in every game and in every training session in order for us to enjoy ourselves and make the people who follow Castilla happy and proud of the team".
"You have to be a star player at Real Madrid. A lot of players are afraid of failing or making mistakes, they stop trying to do things and I try to convey to them that they can make mistakes many times but that shouldn't stop them trying. Our opponents' expectations and identity are really high and that's going to require us to be totally focused in every game and in every training session in order for us to enjoy ourselves and make the people who follow Castilla happy and proud of the team".
The opposition
"There's always a bit of uncertainty on the first day of the season. Linense are going to be a very tough team because everyone is looking forward to the first game, with the aim of doing well, you've been working for six or seven weeks for this day. We're hungry, with passion and the hunger to do things well is what brings us to Real Madrid City every day and what better time than the competition to be able to demonstrate that. We're going to go out and give our all".
"There's always a bit of uncertainty on the first day of the season. Linense are going to be a very tough team because everyone is looking forward to the first game, with the aim of doing well, you've been working for six or seven weeks for this day. We're hungry, with passion and the hunger to do things well is what brings us to Real Madrid City every day and what better time than the competition to be able to demonstrate that. We're going to go out and give our all".