Celta Vigo manager wary of Real Madrid – ‘They are hurt after not winning the cup’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid return to the field for the first time after their defeat in the Copa del Rey final in an early kickoff tomorrow.

It will be a do or die game for Los Blancos whose only trophy hope this season remains La Liga. Given Barcelona’s four point lead, however, every game is a must-win.

Facing Celta Vigo at this point, needless to say, is easier said than done for the Galician side have been in great form this season. In fact, they came painfully close to beating Barcelona last month.

Celta manager speaks

Speaking to the media earlier today, Celta Vigo manager Claudio Giraldez opened up on his team’s upcoming game against Real Madrid and what he expected from the massive clash that lay ahead.

“It’s the third game against them this year, we know the potential they have, we know that if we are not perfect, we don’t have a chance. They are hurt after not winning the cup,” he began.

“We have to be focused, with a lot of personality, being brave and doing very well in both areas, which is something decisive against a team with so much talent and so much ability to hurt you out of nowhere,” he added.

Speaking on Real Madrid’s setbacks in defence and what he expected of Los Blancos at the back, the Celta manager said,

“I’m sure they’re going to get four high-level players in the defensive line. They have a very large squad, they have an academy with a lot of quality.”

“With the potential they have above, not only to start but also on the bench, it will be important that we maintain our defensive level throughout the game. It’s what we had a hard time maintaining in the second half of extra time in the Cup,” he added on what his team must do right.

Celta Vigo ready for Real Madrid challenge.. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Giraldez then elaborated on how tomorrow’s game will be different from the recent cup meeting against Real Madrid earlier this year.

“Here it will be 90 minutes, it will be less time than the cup tie, in which when we defended well, we were able to compete. When we were not well, we had to suffer more.”

“In addition, you have to be able to have the ball a lot, to be in their field and that they have to run after the ball,” he added.

The manager was then asked about Real Madrid’s academy and the possibility of young stars coming out and impressing given the team’s situation.

“Castilla is a team of a very high level, which has chosen players who are well prepared in Primera in a scenario like the Bernabeu, which is their dream,” he began on Castilla.

“Here we have good examples that the players of the subsidiaries are prepared to play in Primera in a solvent way,” he added.

Speaking on how one can never count Real Madrid out irrespective of their form, Giraldez insisted that the narrative around Los Blancos’ failure is overdone.

“Madrid is very powerful in any scenario. If they had won the final we would say that they arrived with confidence. If they lose, they come injured… They are one of the best teams in the world.”

“This season they have won two titles, they have been runners-up in two others, they have reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League, they are fighting the League… They will always be complicated,” he added.

Finally, he opened up on what exactly his side must do to make the most of Real Madrid’s slump and possible take all three points tomorrow.

“There are different ways to compete against each one. I know the one we want. We have to have the ball as long as possible, although it is true that there are games, like against Barça, that we were not able to have what we wanted.”

“We know the potential they have to run in transition. With a set piece of ball they are doing a lot of damage too,” he concluded on Real Madrid’s strengths.

Source: AS