Corberán: "We need to face every game with the mentality of winning"

Carlos Corberán previewed the Monday night matchup with Real Oviedo in his pre-match press conference this Saturday. 

Julen Agirrezabala’s recovery process

Julen had some discomfort last week, but it didn't prevent him from competing. This week we've moderated his workload so he'll be in perfect condition to play. It’s a very similar situation to Dmitri Foulquier's; both will be in the squad.

Real Oviedo 

They're a historic Primera División side; they're returning to the top flight with great enthusiasm and desire. They have the ability to compete; we can't judge them by their results. They've already played against the top three teams in LALIGA, and in the last game they were very competitive side against FC Barcelona, giving them a challenge and making them struggle. They do this with a style of defence that's somewhat different from many other teams. They're a team that try to attack, link up, and break you down in attack, even if they haven't scored many goals yet. Regardless of the opposition, we approach every match with a winning mentality.

What he expects from André Almeida

Everyone has the chance to either help the team from the start or during the match. There are times when he doesn't start the game or doesn't play, because the match and the context of the match calls for a different player. Everyone is available to start or to come in later. André is a different kind of player, more of a playmaker from open play. When he's on the pitch, he helps because he gets close to the ball, makes the team play more combinations and makes more passes. We have to find the balance between playmaking, speed and finishing off moves. André helps us achieve that balance and that combination.

Defending when ahead

We want to be competitive from start to finish in games, and we work to develop that ability. That is also affected by what the opponents are looking for. During the first 30 minutes against Espanyol, we were the better side. The more you attack, the less you defend. During that stretch, we dominated the game offensively. From then on, the opponents adjust and change. How we start matches is one thing, and how we all adapt is another. Against Athletic Club, for example, we made a substitution and adapted. Against RCD Espanyol, the opposite happened, and the opposition adjusted. In those moments, you can recognise what the match is asking of you and you maintain the level of dominance you had, or the opponents even things up or get on top of you. Our goal is to work so that the team give a great response from start to finish. We always try to understand the match and be in tune with each other to overcome the opposition, knowing that any opponents have difficulties and that these moments of adjustment are part of the game.

Evaluating Diakhaby's performance

I can't say what will happen between now and the end of the season; it's our performance that determines our position throughout the season. Diakhaby has an impeccable work rate and has a huge impact on matches. We have players to help the team defend well, including him.

Conceding goals

In your analysis, you are affected by the opponents you face. We want to give away as few chances as possible and create as many opportunities as possible. The more and better you attack, the less you defend. Then you have to master the concepts and responses that a match requires. We always analyse things and commit to improving.

Being happy with the Valencia CF he wants to see

I’ve said that Valencia CF must evolve with every matchday. My hope is that we compete better in the next game, knowing that the opponents are different. Our hope is for the team to understand what they have to do and be able to overcome difficulties; that shows that the team have evolved. That's what we value, and dissatisfaction and self-demand are part of our character as a team.

The risk of overconfidence against Oviedo

If we weren't professional and didn't analyse the opposition, we could fall into the error of believing Real Oviedo are an easy team to play. Neither their position in the table after six games, nor the fact that they were in the Segunda División last season, are indicative of their competitive ability. We analyse, observe, see, and understand what they're going to throw at us, and we're aware of the demands of the match. Regardless of the opponents, we have to have the ambition, enthusiasm, and responsibility to go all out to win.

Opposing players who worry him

We always analyse teams based on what they're capable of generating collectively. They have wingers who go deep, and are capable of advancing many yards and making the attack move close to the goal. Also, there is Santi Cazorla, with whom I worked at Villarreal CF. He has a high level of footballing talent, and is capable of mixing things up and creating. We're going to approach the match with rigor and demand, like every game we play and with every opponent we face.