The goalkeeper from Madrid gave a press conference today at the Antonio Machado state school in Alcalá de Guadaíra, which played host to the inauguration of the IV Edition of the Schools Project ‘From School to Football’. Antonio Adán spoke about the change on the bench and the arrival of Juan Carlos Ollero as president of Real Betis Balompié.

Juan Merino: “He has clear ideas, his message is that of wining matches and that is what we have been working on, making the team stronger in the areas in which he thinks the team needs improvement. We are looking forward to Saturday to get the result we are looking for”.

In what areas does the team need to improve?: “We have to improve many things. Given our performance in the last match it is clear that there is a lot of room for improvement. We are working on that, on Saturday we, as players, also want to show that we are stepping up to the line. They have made changes in all the other areas of the club, now it is our turn”.

The words from the president, Juan Carlos Ollero: “He said the same as everyone form the Club. He wants a process of stability within the Club, a process that will place great demands on everyone. His door is open to us whenever we need to speak to him”.

Julio Velázquez's departure: “I am not going to go into whether he was the best or the worst. I have always said that he was a great professional who had clear ideas. He did a lot of good. In football though, results are what matters at the end of the day. It is easier to fire one than twenty-five. The Board decided that the results did not fall in line with what the Club deserved and this has been the result. But that is old news, now it is our turn”.

The arrival of a new manager: “Of course transient nature of the change will depend on the results and the work we do whilst Merino is with us. If in the end it is good and Club decides they do not need to change him, then he will stay. If at the end of the day someone else has to come, then the decision will be taken calmly, all the options have to be weighed up. The fewer the changes there are, there will be more stability in the Club and that will be better for all concerned”.

Have ther been any special meetings amongst the players?:  “There have been no special meetings. After the match against Deportivo Alavés, with the situation as it was and all the changes taking place, the next thing is for us to step up to the line. We are the ones who are responsible, the ones you go out on the pitch. For there to be stability there has to be results and that is something we have to do on the field of play”.

Pressure from the fans: “We know how pissed the fans are. In the end the results are what call the shots. A player feels uncomfortable when his own fan base shoe their displeasure, but wee have to accept it. When we go out, like we did the other day, and we concede a goal in the 10th minute, it is only natural that there are protests on the stands calling for us to step up. We have to work hard to give them what they deserve”.

For Merino, Betis has the best team for the Second Division: “I also think it is the best team for the second division, it is something we are convinced of. All we have to do is work and string together some victories. I am convinced we are going to obtain our goal at the end of the season. We want to win on Saturday so we can get that stability, it is what the team needs to move on”.