NEWS | 27/04/2019 | Javier García | PHOTOGRAPHER: Helios de la Rubia
"If you want to put points on the board nowadays, you have to play with high intensity", added the Whites' boss."We know just how motivated Rayo will be and they'll try and do their best. Judging by their games, they're a side that never give up and we'll have to be at our best if we're to get a good result".
Vinicius Jr.
"He still needs to do some more work after being out through injury for two months and he needs another week of training under his belt. He won't be involved against Rayo. He's gradually doing better in training and upping the tempo, but he's still not there because after two months... He wants to train and improve and that's positive. He'll have next week to train and we'll have to see what happens ahead of the Villarreal game".
Is Madrid a club where dreams come true?
"Yes, that's the case for a lot of players because they know that this is a big club and many players want to play here some day, that's perfectly normal. We'll have to see what happens".
Raúl de Tomás
"That's an issue between the clubs. I'm not going to say any more because I'm not in charge of that, it's an agreement between Real Madrid and Rayo and it has to be respected. He's a player that I coached when he was with Castilla and he's got no shortage of talent. Perhaps what he was missing was the opportunity to play for a top-flight team and he's doing very well and has scored a lot of goals this season. He links up well with his teammates, knows how to play good football and I'm really happy for him. I got on well with him during my time in charge of Castilla".
His power to assemble the squad
"I have no power on anything. The important thing for us is that we work together. There's an institution here, a president and people in charge, they're the important ones. Then there's a coach, who in this case is me, and we want to achieve things and we're going to try and do so by working together. I don't even call the shots in my own house. You have to do things together and that's how we'll go about things ahead of next season".
WE'LL PUT A SIDE OUT TO TRY AND HURT THEM AND COME AWAY FROM VALLECAS WITH THE WIN.
"They're all ready, apart from Vinicius - we want to take things slowly with him. Karim won't be involved and we'll put out a side to try and hurt them and win the game. I'm not going to say how we're going to set up".
Players under contract
"If they're under contract, they can stay here, even if they know that they're not going to get game time. However, I think that all of them are looking to play. If I was asked the question, I'd want to go elsewhere and get more minutes. With 22 or 23 players in the squad, the reality in football is that there'll be players who'll end up getting less game time. But if there's no space for a given player, it's better for them to go and play".
Idea in the terms of squad
"I've got a clear idea of what I want to do. I know about the profiles of player and everything, not every single name, but I'm clear about what I want to achieve next year and we're working towards that. There are four games to go and then we'll have to see. We'll have to see how we do things, but our idea is to bolster our attacking options".
Hazard & Bale capable of playing together?
"Every good player is able to player with other good players. It was said that I couldn't play with Djorkaeff, what a daft idea".
Bale
"He's happy regardless of whether he plays or not. He's had game time with me in charge, I'm nobody to be telling him what he has to do. He's part of the squad and at the end of the season, we'll see what he does. He's certainly going to get more game time between now and the end of the season".
Llorente & Ceballos
"If I've got a 22-man squad and have to name an 18-man squad, I have to leave some of them out. The two of them will be with us tomorrow."
Away games
"In the past it was the other way around. We secured wins on the road and it was tough at home. It seems as if it's now the opposite, but we've got the chance to change that tomorrow and we're going to try and do so. We'd all like to win an away game".