"I could tell you that these have been the team’s three best days of training. You can see that they have a lot of confidence and desire. I congratulated them today because it’s incredible to see the unity there, to see how much they want it and how committed they are. Sometimes you even have to stop them," said the Zaragoza coach, who hoped these positive feelings would "continue until the end of the season because I believe that is the key to achieving our objective."
In this way, an elated Ibai Gómez said he is "enjoying himself a lot" in Real Zaragoza’s daily work. "The team is reminding me a lot of the feelings we had at Arenas two seasons ago: everyone is committed, everyone wants it, the ball moves very quickly, the players understand each other better every day, they are more precise and they do not lower the intensity," said the Basque coach, referring to the season in which he led Arenas de Getxo to promotion from Segunda to Primera RFEF as group champions.
Even so, the Real Zaragoza coach is aware that they must keep their feet on the ground and continue working day by day, as this has only just begun and there is still a lot to do: "I have always said from the first day that, for me, the mindset comes above absolutely everything. Just as when there were many more doubts, the team was able not to change its script, and the mentality has to remain the same."
MANAGING MINUTES
Against this backdrop, one of Ibai Gómez’s most delicate tasks is keeping every member of a team fully involved. So far, no one has secured a permanent place, and the coach has yet to repeat a starting XI in any of the Primera RFEF matches played. "What we consider non-negotiable is their commitment and that they give their all. Then it is up to the coaching staff to decide whether you play or not," the Basque coach explained.
"I like them to be angry, as long as they respect others and put the collective above the individual. I like them to be angry because you have to be angry," Ibai said about the possible consequences of managing playing time among the players. "Our main objective throughout the transfer window was to find profiles who put the collective above the individual and who place Real Zaragoza above any other circumstance," Ibai Gómez stated.
