Racing Santander head coach Jose Alberto Lopez has shared his thoughts ahead of one of the most anticipated fixtures at El Sardinero in recent years, as his side gets ready to face Barcelona in the Co...
Racing Santander head coach Jose Alberto Lopez has shared his thoughts ahead of one of the most anticipated fixtures at El Sardinero in recent years, as his side gets ready to face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.
The tie arrives at a moment of huge excitement for the club and its supporters, with Barça travelling to Santander as reigning Spanish Super Cup champions.
From the outset, Jose Alberto made it clear how highly he rates the opposition.
The Racing coach did not shy away from praising Barcelona’s current level, describing them as “the most in-form team in the world and the worst opponent to face.”
The guard of honour
Despite that, Racing have decided to honour tradition and sporting values by forming a guard of honour before kick-off, a gesture that has drawn attention given recent debates elsewhere.
Defending the decision firmly, the coach said, “I don’t care what other people think.
“We are professionals, and it is good club manners to form a guard of honour for any team that has won a title, be it Barça, Madrid, Atlético… whoever it may be.”
While respect is clear, realism also plays a role in Racing’s preparation. Jose Alberto acknowledged the gap between the two teams and hinted that rotation could be part of his plan.
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“We have an important game on Sunday, and our priority is the league; our goal is to try to get promoted.
“We have focused more on preparing for the weekend’s game than tomorrow’s,” he explained.
Will not bow down
Still, the Racing manager refuses to approach the tie with resignation. He believes that football’s unpredictability gives his side a genuine chance if they perform at their highest level.
“If we play at our best, we can get through the tie, because when the ball starts rolling, everything is equal. We have a 50% chance of winning.”
Jose Alberto will experience the night from the stands after being sent off in the previous round, but that has not dampened his pride in what the club is building.
“Our fans have been putting up with crap for 13 years, to put it bluntly.
“Over the years, we have faced Arenas de Getxo and Gernika many more times, with all due respect, than we have faced the best teams, which are the teams we should be playing against,” he concluded.
Source: SPORT
Category: General Sports
