Real Oviedo manager Veljko Paunovic has acknowledged that this Sunday's LaLiga EA Sports match against Real Madrid at the Carlos Tartiere will be "a celebration," although he has warned that they will "not" back down and that his players will take to the field "convinced, happy, and courageous."
"We've rested well and during the week we've worked to propose a game plan and a match plan to win. We respect Real Madrid, but we have the utmost respect for ourselves. We're not going to back down; we want to come out convinced, happy, and courageous," he declared in a press conference.
Twenty-four years later, Oviedo's stadium will once again host a match in the top flight of Spanish football, and the Serbian coach doesn't shy away from the importance of the event. "Tomorrow is a celebration; First Division football finally returns to Oviedo. We're facing a great opponent, and we want to contribute to this celebration with our football. We want to be a team that defends well, that competes with what we have, and that stands strong with our fans," he emphasized.
On another note, he doesn't believe this Sunday's match will be similar to last week's against Villarreal, in which the Asturians suffered a 2-0 defeat. "They're different teams, and therefore the match will be different too. The opponent has its strengths, and we also have new strengths to add. We're rounding out the squad with new reinforcements," he noted.
Finally, he spoke about the coincidence that the Blues' last game in the First Division and their first home game back in the top flight were against Real Madrid. "I want to forget about this 2001 game. We'll see if the ball goes in this time. That was in the past and it's our memory, but these lads have to create a new one now, and hopefully it'll be one they'll remember forever in Oviedo," he concluded.
