Carvajal: 'It'll be a very demanding final, so we have to be calm and focused out there.'
'We have a lot of players who are used to this kind of game, so I hope that will be decisive,' said the defender.
Carvajal spoke to the media in the press room at La Cartuja the day before the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna. The defender opened with a tribute to Arsenio Iglesias: 'I would like to send out a warm embrace to his family and friends. The footballing world has suffered a great loss. I'd like to offer my sincere condolences.'
'The Copa del Rey was my first title nine years ago and it still brings back great memories. We're all really looking forward to playing on this stage and winning another cup. Although we're aware of how demading it's going to be, we go into the game with a calm state of mind and looking to keep up the form that has brought us here for a chance to lift the cup.'
Form
'All footballers go through ups and downs. I'm feeling pretty good in terms of form, confidence and physical fitness right now. Luckily, we have a lot of players in the dressing room who are used to this type of match and I hope that that will be an important factor tomorrow in deciding the game.'
Cup fever
'At the beginning of the season we set out to win every title. It's clear that we were struggling in the Cup a little, it's not easy because lots of clubs put their all into it. It's an important moment in the season and I couldn't give you a reason why we haven't won it more recently, we go all out in everything we play.'
Favourites
'From the inside we don't see ourselves as favourites, far from it. Osasuna have earned their place here on their own merits and a few days ago we saw that they managed to hold on for a draw at the Camp Nou with a man down. That says a lot about what a great team they are and what the can do.'
On the referees
'I'm one of the players in the team who is more on top of the referee, maybe I should do it less. It's something I'm working on. We're all human and we all make mistakes and the other day it cost me a yellow card and possibly the game.'
'The Copa del Rey was my first title nine years ago and it still brings back great memories. We're all really looking forward to playing on this stage and winning another cup. Although we're aware of how demading it's going to be, we go into the game with a calm state of mind and looking to keep up the form that has brought us here for a chance to lift the cup.'
Form
'All footballers go through ups and downs. I'm feeling pretty good in terms of form, confidence and physical fitness right now. Luckily, we have a lot of players in the dressing room who are used to this type of match and I hope that that will be an important factor tomorrow in deciding the game.'
Cup fever
'At the beginning of the season we set out to win every title. It's clear that we were struggling in the Cup a little, it's not easy because lots of clubs put their all into it. It's an important moment in the season and I couldn't give you a reason why we haven't won it more recently, we go all out in everything we play.'
Favourites
'From the inside we don't see ourselves as favourites, far from it. Osasuna have earned their place here on their own merits and a few days ago we saw that they managed to hold on for a draw at the Camp Nou with a man down. That says a lot about what a great team they are and what the can do.'
On the referees
'I'm one of the players in the team who is more on top of the referee, maybe I should do it less. It's something I'm working on. We're all human and we all make mistakes and the other day it cost me a yellow card and possibly the game.'
'They try to do their best and we do what we can so that the next decision goes our way. I don't think their minds are made up before the games, but they should protect football more and favour attractive play and speed rather than teams trying to waste time by committing fouls and infringements or taunting their opponents. This should be a point to correct for next season. Vinicius is one of those who has suffered because he tries a lot of dribbling and when he rgets the ball, things happen. But I'm not just asking this for him, but for all those who dare to show flare. I think they should be protected a bit more.'
On Vini Jr.
'When he arrived with us we could already see that he was going to be a super-star, but he was under tremendous pressure. People said he didn't score, that he dribbled a lot but didn't finish... To overcome that at such a young age and now be among the 3-4 best players in the world, deciding games and championships, is something I've seldom seen. He has worked hard both physically and mentally and everything he is now has been well earned.'
Criticism
'It's not that I blossom in the spring, I try to do my best all year round. In these months I've found my consistency and my optimum level and on the pitch it's paying off. You have to respect criticism and look at it in an optimistic way, football is not a bed of roses. When I talk to my closest people we always say, as Iago Aspas said recently, that the turf doesn't lie and that hard work pays off.'
His sending off against Real Sociedad
'In my opinion, I don't think it was a yellow card offence and that's why I posted that emoticon, in disbelief, but I quickly deleted it. The referee considered it a yellow card and I have to accept his decision. I regret it because I left the team with one less and it made it difficult to come back in San Sebastian.'
Motivation
'I do feel something special in the air. Lots of players have never won this title and they're crazy to do so. Our approach to the final is no different to that of a Champions League final. We've arrived a day early, we're going to have a good training session and tomorrow we'll have the nerves of a final, which always creates a bit more excitement. Hopefully we can win.'
Our opponents
'Seeing the quality that their coach has and the history that precedes Osasuna, including their motto 'Nunca se rinde', never give up which is similar to ours, we know that they are going to give everything. We have to be prepared for anything and be one hundred per cent focused so that we don't take anything for granted because they are really going to put us to the test.'
Decisive weeks
'We have two weeks in which, practically, our season will be decided, as the league has become very complicated for us. The first battle is tomorrow. For us it's a final, never better said. We want to win another title. As the coach has said, we have the possibility to win as many titles as possible in two years. Once tomorrow's game is over we'll think about the next opponent, but right now our only focus is on Osasuna.'
On Vini Jr.
'When he arrived with us we could already see that he was going to be a super-star, but he was under tremendous pressure. People said he didn't score, that he dribbled a lot but didn't finish... To overcome that at such a young age and now be among the 3-4 best players in the world, deciding games and championships, is something I've seldom seen. He has worked hard both physically and mentally and everything he is now has been well earned.'
Criticism
'It's not that I blossom in the spring, I try to do my best all year round. In these months I've found my consistency and my optimum level and on the pitch it's paying off. You have to respect criticism and look at it in an optimistic way, football is not a bed of roses. When I talk to my closest people we always say, as Iago Aspas said recently, that the turf doesn't lie and that hard work pays off.'
His sending off against Real Sociedad
'In my opinion, I don't think it was a yellow card offence and that's why I posted that emoticon, in disbelief, but I quickly deleted it. The referee considered it a yellow card and I have to accept his decision. I regret it because I left the team with one less and it made it difficult to come back in San Sebastian.'
Motivation
'I do feel something special in the air. Lots of players have never won this title and they're crazy to do so. Our approach to the final is no different to that of a Champions League final. We've arrived a day early, we're going to have a good training session and tomorrow we'll have the nerves of a final, which always creates a bit more excitement. Hopefully we can win.'
Our opponents
'Seeing the quality that their coach has and the history that precedes Osasuna, including their motto 'Nunca se rinde', never give up which is similar to ours, we know that they are going to give everything. We have to be prepared for anything and be one hundred per cent focused so that we don't take anything for granted because they are really going to put us to the test.'
Decisive weeks
'We have two weeks in which, practically, our season will be decided, as the league has become very complicated for us. The first battle is tomorrow. For us it's a final, never better said. We want to win another title. As the coach has said, we have the possibility to win as many titles as possible in two years. Once tomorrow's game is over we'll think about the next opponent, but right now our only focus is on Osasuna.'