The Real Betis Balompié manager attended members of the press prior to departing for the Catalan region to play UE Llagostera. The manager from Línea de la Concepción continued in the same line as his statements last Wednesday, in that the match is like “a final”, this the 15th match day of the 'Liga' Adelante (the second division).

The match against UE Llagostera: “I have made the most of these three days I have had. The most intense day was Wednesday. The other sessions were not so intensive, we have worked on concepts, organization, positioning and we have worked on the offensive and defensive lines. Overall I am pleased, but three days is not much time. They are all very professional. They get anything you say to them straight away. On Saturday we will get to show what we have learned. The concepts and the way we have worked over the last three days will hopefully be enough to win”.

The match against UE Llagostera is a final: “It is a final for me and the players. Betis's objective is to get promoted, because we have the team, the budget and the fans to do so. Every match we play will be like a final, we have to take on every match with that mindset. If there is a point difference between us and our rival, it will never be a reason for us to relax but it will help us to keep our cool. Every point we pull back from the leaders is vitally important. Winning gives you a great boost in morale. We know that with a victory you get two or three points and you move up the standings. I am not thinking about if I will be here more or less time, I am only thinking about the tie with Llagostera and that we have to win it. That is the way I'm thinking. My objective is to do the best job I can so that the players, members of the board and the fans have a good concept of the work I have done”.

Tomorrow's line-up: “I know the players I am going to field, but I won't say anything so as not to give anything away to our rivals. Their manager will have an idea looking at the players who are listed, but there are players who have tried out today for the starting eleven and there could be changes. I am not going to say anything because the surprise factor is important. I am not going to say anything here because all the players don't know yet either”.

Varela: “We know him well, he has played here for a long time. He has come along a lot this year. Two months ago in the reserves he made the odd defensive error because of his age. His development has been amazing, defensively he has improved dramatically. He is a canny player and he tries to correct the mistakes that any young player has. There is a vast abyss between the Varela we are seeing now and the player I came across in the preseason. He has potential and he is developing, so I would say he is able to play”.

Perquis and Molina, not listed: “Listing one player instead of another is always done with respect for all involved. My position with them is not unusual. They are players who have not had continuity on the field of play. I do not want to take a lot of players who are not playing because the level of intensity with those players who have not been playing full matches is noticeable. There is a big difference and you can tell. Given the players I have, I have tried to chose those that I have seen as being better over the last three days. Of course those who know them better are those who have been with them for a long time”.

The first days as Betis manager: “It is important to train in the second division and to do so with Betis is a joy and something I am tremendously enthusiastic about. I have slept well these last few days because I am pleased with the work we have done and how the squad has accepted me in. The feelings I have got from these first few days make me very happy. If I see that the team has worked well then I feel even calmer. I have a really good feeling about this team".

Lorenzo Serra Ferrer: “He is a great professional, a person who has the greatest of abilities in all aspects of sport. He is one of the most successful managers in all of Betis's history. We are talking about a reference point, a profession who I would wish the best for wherever he may be, and also on a personal level. WE know he is a straight-up guy and very disciplined, and extremely valid for any post he may hold”.