Alexis Trujillo has addressed the media for the first time as head coach of Real Betis Balompié. The interim boss has analysed the upcoming game against Atletico de Madrid, the arrival of Serra Ferrer, and other topics.

Debut as first coach: “This is a new experience for me. I’ve been several times acting as assistant coach, but this situation is new. I’m very excited and eager. Let’s see if we can show a good image on Sunday and get a good result to give a joy to our fans.”

Atletico de Madrid: “We have the luck of facing a team that is showing the huge potential they have. As a player, I used to like to play against the best teams. The more powerful, the better. Now we are facing a team that needs to achieve its target and has done some amazing seasons. This should be a motivation for all of us. Let’s see if we can be in the game and make the most difficult possible for them.”

How’s the dressing room?: “After two defeats in a row and all the environment being not so good, I’ve seen them a bit low. Our mission is to get them back as soon as possible, so our main focus right now is to try to higher the players’ self-esteem and make them see that they have played many good games. We need, by all possible means, to avoid repeating the image shown in the last two games, in which we conceded four goals each.”

Serra Ferrer, new sports vice-chairman: “I’m not going to discover him now. In his previous spells he showed his winning edge and compromise with the Club. He has an outstanding winning character. His arrival is going to be very important, he perfectly knows the idiosyncrasy of this city and this Club.”

Work with the team: “Right now we are focused, as I said, on the self-esteem. Nobody likes to lose, especially conceding four goals. I think they are conscious that this kind of games damage the prestige of the club and themselves’ individually as well. I’m trying to make them realise they can do this. They’ve done it already this season. I want to see this version from them. If we can be an annoying team, with intensity, I think we can play a good game against a great team. However, if we play thinking that’s going to be hard, impossible, we are going to make it very easy for them.”

Will you change players and formation?: “I’m still thinking about it. I’m studying the possibilities with my two assistants. There will probably be a change of formation.”