In his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Real Madrid, Diego Martínez highlighted that the key will be "maintaining the right mindset to stay as competitive as possible." Reflecting on the team’s preparation, he said, "The week has been very good. We’ve trained at a high level with great intensity. The daily work has been positive."
Here are some of his statements:
"From the moment we arrived, we’ve been clear that we were taking on a challenge. Obviously, winning boosts confidence. The motivation has always been there. Some matches naturally bring more anxiety; it also depends on the physical condition of the players—those are factors that come into play. The squad is very clear about what we need and what we’re aiming for."
"Real Madrid is a team that excels in transitions and has players with incredible quality. Their ability to score from long-range shots is another important aspect—they’ve been very effective. We know we have to defend very well and try to exploit the spaces they leave behind."
"We’ve been able to stay very competitive against tough opponents. Beyond the difference in budgets, we need to focus on bringing out our best version."
"I want to highlight the effort of the players who pushed hard to be available for the last match. That reflects the team’s commitment. I won’t speak about their talent and qualities—that’s evident. This is a long journey, and we’ll face adversity, especially as we enter the second half of the season."