“Impeccable during the week. We’ll see how we handle it on Sunday. Last week I said it was the best week, and now this one is the best. They had three days off and we were amazed by their level of precision and work; they came in incredibly well on the first day of training,” the Real Zaragoza coach explained.
For now, it must be stressed, things are “impeccable”, but they must continue that way. “We’ll see if we can maintain it. I won’t allow the wrong mentality,” Ibai added before Real Zaragoza host Teruel.
Ibai speaks at Real Zaragoza’s training ground. Photo: A.P.
For the time being, however, he has only good things to say about his experience at Real Zaragoza, at least publicly. “It’s difficult to pick just one thing. The start is better than we could have expected, but we are aware that we haven’t done anything yet. It is crucial to get people excited, and we are beginning to do that,” he explained.
THE TEAM’S IMPROVEMENT
Another piece of good news is that, after four consecutive victories, the coach has not lowered his demands. “We have a lot of room for improvement. During the week we are better than what we show at the weekend,” he added about Real Zaragoza’s players.
In this regard, Ibai Gómez revealed that the players attend specific training sessions in the afternoons. These are more detailed for the footballers, and through them the Real Zaragoza coach aims to refine certain aspects.
The coach also discussed the defence, insisting that, for him, it is the most important aspect on the pitch. Even when winning, the ideal is to defend far from the goal. The merit of this theory lies in putting it into practice, as Real Zaragoza are doing on the pitch for now.
A WARNING TO THE FRINGE PLAYERS
Ibai Gómez also referred to the players who have featured less regularly. He knows it is difficult for those who do not start matches to absorb the message that everyone is important. But they are. “Some players will drop out, but hopefully as few as possible,” the coach predicted.
He also shared his own experience, suggesting that Real Zaragoza’s less regular players could apply it to themselves. “During my playing career I was a substitute more often than I was a starter. I learned that it is about the team; I realised it late. Once I handled it well, and another time I was not a good substitute. But getting angry, not training... we would be shooting ourselves in the foot,” he said.
That said, for now many of the players have been “hat-worthy”, so to speak. And the one he gave special mention to was Hugo Pinilla.
IBAI AT REAL ZARAGOZA
Finally, the coach was asked to assess the four months he has spent at Real Zaragoza. “I’m delighted with the city, the people and day-to-day life. I miss my family. Hopefully I’ll be here for a long time so I can bring them over. I imagine things, and hopefully they will come true,” the coach concluded.
