Pau Quesada: “We have to give our best and show we mean business in Europe"

Pau Quesada and María Méndez spoke to the press on the eve of the team's opener in the Women’s Champions League. Our coach analysed the clash with Roma: “We want to continue the good form we're showing at the Alfredo Di Stéfano. We enjoyed an amazing game here when we qualified against Frankfurt and the team has played brilliantly in the recent home games. We want to show consistency in front of our people and treat the Di Stéfano to a good performance. It's a special day and it'd be perfect to do that in front of the home fans."
“We're up against the best teams in Europe. To start at home, and against opposition like Roma, it's bound to be a spectacle. They're doing really well and they've started the league strongly. We have to give our best and show we mean business in Europe."

Goalkeeper
“Merle will continue in the sticks. The team is doing really well defensively and we've kept clean sheets in our last four consecutive games. We're one away from the Real Madrid women's record. We're delighted to have two fantastic goalkeepers, and competition is what makes us even better."

Antonia Silva and Shei miss out
“Antonia's situation is more serious than we thought. She'll be out for an unknown period at this stage. Sheila is still recovering. Silvia Cristóbal was our first option but she's been called up by the U17s. We'll have to find solutions from within the squad. We've got the quality available to resolve the issue."

Feller's fine form
“She's a hugely important player. She scored the first goal of this Real Madrid side and we're thrilled. She gives us so much, and she's so versatile because she can play on the right, on the left, up top... We have to get behind her and help her out so she can keep up the incredible form she's showing this year."

Assessment of the season so far
“I'm focused on our work day to day. It's been really straightforward because all the girls work so hard. For anyone who comes in to watch training, their professionalism and intensity in everything they do is amazing. In games, especially at the Di Stéfano, they've shown a very high level and they achieved the goal of qualifying for the Champions League. It's a positive start, but we have to work on ourselves away from home, where we have to be more decisive in our play. The coaching staff has to provide the tools to ensure the players are equally as comfortable at home and away."

María Méndez: “We've started strongly at home and that will really help us”
“The word that best describes it is excitement to get this season underway in the Champions League, at home in front of our fans. We've started strongly at home and that will really help us. We're hungry and the team wants to go far. It all starts with a good performance on home turf.”

Support at the Di Stéfano
“The Di Stéfano has always risen to the occasion this season. There are more people here all the time, more engaged in all that Real Madrid women's are doing. That makes us players, and the club, so proud. They're our 12th player when things get tough, and the fans can really help us out on the pitch. I hope they can do that on Wednesday and in the coming games."

Four clean sheets in a row
“To have kept four clean sheets in a row gives the team a lot, both going forward and defensively of course. We've really improved in that sense, especially in terms of mentality and how we've got to work. We have to keep it up and I hope it lasts for a long time because it gives us that sense of security."

Second season in the Champions League
“Last season we got knocked out by Arsenal, who went on to win it. That shows we did a good job and the team stepped up to the challenge of the Champions League. We have to keep it going and keep our hopes alive.”

New competition format
“It's a more competitive format because you have more games. We have to assess the opposition, analyse things and play well, which is where we're best."