Ferran Costa's first press conference before the start of the league championship. The tricolors face the Athletic Club's subsidiary and the coach has assessed how the team is doing at the start of the competition.
#ParauladeMíster | Pre-match vs Bilbao Athletic
"It's been a long and demanding pre-season and I think it's helped us make a lot of progress as a team. We can't wait to start competing to win points."
"The objective starts from day to day. We must continue to have a day to day that allows us to move forward as a team, demanding of ourselves and looking for the competitive form we want. We are clear what the bases of the team should be, those aspects in which we cannot fail and, from here, we have a lot of room to growth as a team and we cannot stop. If we have this mentality of giving importance to the process and having a point of internal competitiveness at the same time we respect each other and understand that we are part of a group, this will allow us to offer a good version that should lead us to the month of April and May ready to fight for ambitious goals".
"The analysis I make is in line with what I said before: this is a very tough competition, very demanding, where there are good players and coaches and we have to start with the utmost respect for all the teams. This is the best match to start because we are 100% focused on it. It is a very good team, with 7 or 8 footballers who have played the pre-season with the first team. It is a team with a lot of potential , who has a lot of talent and play at a very high pace."
"During the pre-season it was possible to see what we want to be. We have twelve new players and we have to keep growing and evolving, but for me it is key that people see a team that transmits energy and determination to do things well and to be ready to do whatever it takes to compete at our best and make our guys proud. There will be days when things go better and others worse, but that's what we can't afford to fail at."
"The week has been in line with the pre-season - I see a team with a good mentality, looking forward to make a great season for everyone and the way to achieve that is by giving importance to every moment we spend together to build us as a team. That's what the players have conveyed to me throughout the pre-season and this week has been the same."
"Initial expectations don't make much sense. In the end it's the grass that speaks and the competition puts you where you belong. What we have to focus on is being a reliable team and that on the days we're not doing well we can compete to win matches. And when we're good, let's have the determination to turn it into points."
#SomTricolors