The head coach will get his first taste of Premier League football on Monday as his side travel to Goodison Park following their winning start to his reign in the Carabao Cup earlier in the week. Although he is very much aware that his team currently sit at the foot of the top-flight table, the Spaniard insists he and his players are not concentrating on league positions, but are focusing on doing everything they can to put a winning run together as they restart their season.
On focusing game by game
“For me, the only aim in front is the next match. We have to put the focus here because it’s the only way that I know to build something good and we want to build it.
“We try to be very disciplined about our thoughts and we want to only put our focus on the game in front, and we prepare this match in our daily work.
“We must not think about the table now. The next three points, they are key for us and we have to arrive at this match like a final. We have to put this feeling in each match and not think about a lot of things.
“I think the fans of the club and the players, they know and they are aware of what our situation is. We have to accept this, but at the same time, we want to change it.”
On facing Frank Lampard and Everton
”I think he has developed as a big coach. I knew him when he was a coach of Chelsea and now he’s working in a very good way with Everton. His teams are very remarkable and I know his teams, and it’s going to be a very hard match.
“But in the same way, it’s a very exciting match for us and we want to play this match a lot, and to be ready to try to overcome this opponent.
“There are a lot of things to overcome. They are a very combative team in the defensive phase and in the offensive phase, they have good players, in all the positions.
“But all of the teams in England, all the squads are very good, and with Everton, we will have to be with a very high concentration, and compete with them in all the situations, offensive and defensive situations too.”
On having time to work with his players
“It’s been a very important time because I have the chance to get to know more about them and they also know more about us, not only me but my staff and what we want.
“We have to put balance in this moment, because we have a very important match in front, and we are going to try to build our idea. But now, the most important thing is to be compact and be ready to overcome Everton. But this time has been important for me.
“We have to try to improve our work in both areas because you can play well in the middle of the pitch and you can play well for 10 or 20 minutes, but it isn’t enough. It’s not enough. We have to improve our defensive security and at the same time be able to damage the opponent.
“This is football and we are trying to do it, but I think that we are going to put the focus on the next matches. The first is to compete and to overcome the opponent and then step by step, trying to develop our idea.”
On his Christmas plans
“We are here to work. I have my family here, fortunately, but for the Spanish, the night of the 24th is more important, but of course our focus is on Boxing Day and on the match. Everything else is not the main thing for us.”
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On Jonny and Boubacar’s return
“Jonny worked in the middle of the session today, so we are going to see in the next days if he is going to be ready, but we hope that he is going to arrive ready for the next game.
“Bouba [Traore] is in the same way, so we are optimistic about both of them. The rest of the players are the same. Pedro Neto is out for a long time, but the rest are fit.”
On Hugo Bueno and the academy’s talented youngsters
“I think it is a good thing that the academy players can have the change to arrive in the first-team, but not only to arrive. The most difficult thing is to stay for a lot of time and he [Bueno] has started in these moments and showed character in these moments.
“I understand that he has a quality and a strength to continue to be here and in the future I think he can be a good player for the club. It’s a good thing for the club that the academy players have the possibility to be in the professional team.”
