Manzano: 'Our goal is to qualify and for that we need to start winning against Celtic'
'there’s not need to be obsessed about scoring, we must keep playing well and the goals will come”
Gregorio Manzano, Manager of Atletico Madrid, made it clear in the press conference before the game that he will have to rotate the squad for the two game against Celtic and on Sunday as against Racing. However, when asked if Diego could be a starter he replied 'yes, there are possibilities.'
As to whether it is early to rotate the squad, the technician said that for this game, 'players will be fresher after the Valencia game and if everything goes smoothly they’ll be in good shape for next Sunday against Racing.”
On the opponent, he commented that 'Celtic strengths are that it is a team that always plays to win in their league and along with Rangers are the team to beat. They are very young, very gifted physically. It is the first group game and they want to get off to a good start.'
He acknowledged that 'there will be no major differences in the system we are using. We will focus on our offensive players, which are required, but will continue with the 4-3-3, playing in the midfield diamond, as we have been doing lately”.
Finally, Manzano said of their chances in the Europa League that 'we must go step by step. Thinking first about qualifying from the group, as we did in the other rounds. You know that there are big teams in the competition, one of them Spanish and other Europeans who have been left out of the competition. We must not be over confident because we have to play with the intensity and desire to reach the final but to think of Bucharest is a long way to off. Our goal is to qualify and that the most important is to start winning against Celtic.'
