Football.- Jagoba Arrasate: "There are a thousand things that distort the competition."

"The game in Miami? The side dishes ate the steak a long time ago."

MADRID, 15 (EUROPA PRESS)

RCD Mallorca coach Jagoba Arrasate has stated that there are "a thousand things that adulterate" the competition, in addition to acknowledging that he "doesn't" like the fact that Villarreal-Barcelona can be played in Miami (United States) and that it's been a long time since "the garrison ate the sirloin," and has explained that this Saturday against the Catalans they must approach "excellence" to get a positive result.

"They adulterate, they adulterate a lot of things. That, the television cast... There are a thousand things they adulterate, but oh well... I agree with Iñigo Pérez's words yesterday, that we complain but then don't do anything. What we have to do is face it. We have to point these things out, and if we don't do them, there's no point in coming here to protest later," he declared at the press conference before the match against Barça at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.

He also acknowledged that he doesn't like the idea of ​​Villarreal-Barça being played in Miami. "I don't like it, but there are clubs here, and we're part of it. It's been a while since the garrison ate the steak. Complaining isn't worth anything; something has to be done. If we think there are things that need to change, we have to convey that within our club; the club has to join LaLiga. We're accepting all the changes, and we're part of this. We have to do a different job, and in a different way," he stated.

Regarding this Saturday's match, the Basque coach stated that they will only have a chance "by playing a perfect game." "They're the LaLiga champions, they've had a good preseason, and they're in great form. We have to get close to our best, and it all depends on defending well against a team that's capable of creating many scoring chances in attack; they've established that they can score four or five goals against any opponent in any given game. We also have to attack them, and to do that, we have to be fluid with the ball. We have to get closer to excellence," he expressed.

He also expressed concern about the pressure the Blaugrana team puts on their opponents. "Nothing compares to what Barcelona does with such a high line. They pressure you with both center backs, they smother you when you get the ball out, and that's where we have to have very clear ideas. You see a lot of space to conquer, but to get there you have to do a lot of things well, and it's not easy, because they do high pressing very well," he noted.

Regarding Barça's defensive scheme, "they start with a 4-3-3, but they often modify that formation and use a three-man formation, almost a 3-2-5." "They have very dynamic players; sometimes they put five players on your back line, and that's where we have to adjust with the midfielders. It's not easy because they're very dynamic, they change positions a lot, and that means that if you chase them, they create space; if they don't chase them, they receive the ball alone... If we're good positionally, it's easier to intervene," he noted.

On another note, Arrasate stated that they want to get closer to "the Mallorca team we had in the first half of the season" last season. "I don't know if tomorrow's game is the best indicator, but we want to improve every day," he said, before lamenting the fact that there are "three matchdays and an open transfer window." "We don't like it, but we have to accept it. It's normal for there to be departures and arrivals. What matters right now is tomorrow's game, and I think we're ready to face it with those who are here," he asserted.

On the other hand, he clarified that Cyle Larin, Pablo Maffeo, and Daniel Luna, who are finalizing their departure from the club, "are not at all isolated." "I have to think about the team, and right now Luna has asked to leave, and Maffeo and Larin understand that they're not ready to contribute because they're not focused on it," he explained. "It's not easy, because there are delicate individual situations, but the important thing is the group. Tomorrow I'll call up those who I think can contribute. Other players aren't focused on it right now; we'll see, when the transfer window is over, if they're here. Right now, I have to think about the team, and that's where these decisions come from," he added.

He also believes that goalkeeper Dominik Greif's departure is close to being finalized. "The club is defending its interests, and everything indicates that it will be resolved. I hope it is resolved and that it will be good for all three parties: for Dominik, for the team that will sign him, and for us as well," he hoped.

Finally, he noted that Pablo Torre, who faces his former team this Saturday, "has adapted very well" and is a player who suits them "wonderfully." "He already played a good game here against Hamburg the other day. He's motivated because he likes to play, to be a protagonist. It will be special for him; he's very excited about this project, about this challenge of being an important player at Mallorca, and I hope he shows that from day one," he concluded.