Daniel González: «How could I not believe in these lads?»
Daniel González spoke for the first time as CD Teruel head coach ahead of the match against UE Sant Andreu, which will be played this Saturday, 31 October, at 16:00, on matchday ten of the Primera Federación. The Rojillo coach opened by sending, on behalf of the club, his condolences and support to the families of the victims of the train accident in Toledo.
The coach acknowledged it has been an intense week: «It has been a slightly turbulent week, because you have been working with Kiko since 16 July and, when you spend so much time with someone, he becomes a colleague you spend even more hours with than with your own family». Even so, he focused on the group: «We are keen to change the lads' mindset. They are footballers, they have shown it, they come from good academies, good coaches and good clubs, and we are very lucky to have them here. It is about changing the dynamic a little and keep working».
Daniel González explained that in these first days he has introduced changes to the training methodology: «We are giving different instructions in training and trying to adjust the model to the profile of players we have. If that makes them feel more comfortable and we manage to change their mindset, we will all be happy». On his idea of football, he was clear: «I want football that lets us compete on equal terms with any team. A team that never hides, that knows exactly where to press and that tries to spend as much time as possible in the opposition half, with high pressing and repeated efforts. Our identity has to be that of a battling, gritty team that does not give up easily and that earns respect».
On Sant Andreu, who also have a new coach and will play in Palamós, he preferred to focus on his own team: «We have to go there and play our game, be ourselves, believe that we have a better squad than the table unfortunately shows, and go out without any fear, standing up and with very clear ideas». For him, every match has the same value: «We do not have the privilege of dropping points against any opponent. We have to go for every match as if it were the last. Over the years it has been shown that, being Teruel, you can stand up to any team». He added: «To win you have to do many things well: defend your box, attack the opposition box and control the different phases of the game. If we do that, we will be close to winning. I want a team that goes for the match and is not afraid of losing».
Asked about his role, Daniel González described himself as a club man: «I see myself as one of the family. On Tuesday at ten at night, while I was putting my children to bed, the club called me and here I am. The club needs me to lend a hand now and I am going to do it. Whatever this club needs, if it is in my hands, I will do it». The coach, who was part of the coaching staffs of Unai, Vicente Parras and Kiko Ramírez, said he has tried «to take the best from each of them».
Finally, he made his confidence in the squad clear: «How could I not believe in these lads? There is magnificent work behind them from the sporting director and very good management from the board to bring these players here. Many have played professional football and come from professional academies with top coaches. How could we not believe in them when they are footballers?». On Relu, he explained that the captain is injured and has had an MRI scan, and that they are waiting for the results to know the recovery timescale.
