José Luis Oltra: “We can’t allow Atlético time to think”
“We have to approach the game as if it was the last league fixture”
José Luis Oltra, manager of UD Almería highlighted the importance of the match against Atlético de Madrid on Saturday at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos. “We have to approach the game as if it was the last league fixture and had everything on the line. Being able to win two games in-a-row for the first time all season would be very important for our aspirations.”
Oltra isn’t thinking about the possibility of leaving the relegation zone in the event of earning a win over Atlético. “The truly important thing would be to get the victory, regardless of whether we can get ourselves out of relegation spots. It would be a big step in our battle for salvation. The win in Alicante was very good for us mentally; our chances have increased in the competition and we see things differently, but we have to lend some continuity to our battle. Those three points against Hércules aren’t going to mean much if we fail against Atlético de Madrid”.
With regard to his team’s opponent this week, the head coach commented that “Atlético de Madrid are a great side, they’re coming off of one of their best matches of the season against Villarreal and have regained the best versions of their important players such as Reyes, Agüero or Forlán, although they have great players and a fine attack from the midfield up.”
Furthermore, the head coach of Almería thinks that Quique Sánchez Flores won’t reserve any of his players ahead of next week’s derby against Real Madrid. “For them, this fixture against us is also very important and they’ll come to win. I have no doubt about that. We’re competing very well at home, where we’ve been strong despite the last two draws, and we can hurt Atlético de Madrid, but to do that we’ll have to be well-disciplined and organized, and play valiantly and aggressively. We have to be an uncomfortable team for them, not allow them time to think, and then take advantage of our attack.”
Concerning the difficulties that Almería are having in earning shutouts, he said that “we’re working well in defense and proof of that is that Diego Alves, in spite of having decisive performances, is having to make fewer saves. We’ve slipped up at key moments, on set pieces, on a lack of aggressiveness in clearing the ball... but that has a solution and we’re working on fixing it.”
Oltra isn’t thinking about the possibility of leaving the relegation zone in the event of earning a win over Atlético. “The truly important thing would be to get the victory, regardless of whether we can get ourselves out of relegation spots. It would be a big step in our battle for salvation. The win in Alicante was very good for us mentally; our chances have increased in the competition and we see things differently, but we have to lend some continuity to our battle. Those three points against Hércules aren’t going to mean much if we fail against Atlético de Madrid”.
With regard to his team’s opponent this week, the head coach commented that “Atlético de Madrid are a great side, they’re coming off of one of their best matches of the season against Villarreal and have regained the best versions of their important players such as Reyes, Agüero or Forlán, although they have great players and a fine attack from the midfield up.”
Furthermore, the head coach of Almería thinks that Quique Sánchez Flores won’t reserve any of his players ahead of next week’s derby against Real Madrid. “For them, this fixture against us is also very important and they’ll come to win. I have no doubt about that. We’re competing very well at home, where we’ve been strong despite the last two draws, and we can hurt Atlético de Madrid, but to do that we’ll have to be well-disciplined and organized, and play valiantly and aggressively. We have to be an uncomfortable team for them, not allow them time to think, and then take advantage of our attack.”
Concerning the difficulties that Almería are having in earning shutouts, he said that “we’re working well in defense and proof of that is that Diego Alves, in spite of having decisive performances, is having to make fewer saves. We’ve slipped up at key moments, on set pieces, on a lack of aggressiveness in clearing the ball... but that has a solution and we’re working on fixing it.”