Relu: «We want to give something back to the fans, who are fully behind us»

CD Teruel captain Relu spoke to the media ahead of the match against SD Huesca, to be played this Sunday 27 September at 19:00 at the Estadio Pinilla, on matchday five of the Primera Federación. The midfielder did not hide the dressing room's frustration at the start of the season, but said he was convinced the team will turn things around and spoke of his excitement about the season's first Aragonese derby.

The captain was direct about the team's situation. He acknowledged the dressing room is hurting because taking a single point from four matches is not easy, but added that confidence remains intact: «We are very confident that we are going to get out of this». He recalled that the season has only just begun and said he trusts his teammates completely to make the turn this very week, at home and in front of their own fans.

On the match against SD Huesca, Relu stressed what it means to face opponents who were in the Spanish top flight not long ago, in a derby Teruel has not experienced for 22 years. «Two beautiful weeks are coming», he said, also referring to the subsequent trip to Real Zaragoza, describing a motivated group eager to respond: «We are going to give everything to take the three points».

Asked about set pieces, the captain called for perspective. He explained that the team works on them, analyses where the mistakes came from and considers whether to switch from man-marking to zonal marking, but warned that goals will be conceded in many different ways over the course of a season: «We can't become obsessed with that. You work on it and you move on from there».

On the key to taking a step forward, he pointed to the players getting to know one another. He recalled that the squad combines seven or eight players from last season with many new faces, and that the aim is for everyone to integrate fully: «We have to be tight-knit». He highlighted that the dressing room is more united every day and is confident that, as the matchdays go by, things will improve.

On a personal note, the captain admitted these opening fixtures have hurt him particularly because of his role in the group, and accepted his share of responsibility in turning the situation around. He said the team is aware of the support it receives and wants to repay it: «We want to give something back to the fans, who are fully behind us». On his position on the pitch, he put himself at the coaching staff's disposal, whether in midfield or in defence: «What I want is to help the team».

Relu closed his press conference by looking back at last season, when the team also failed to win any of the first four matches and went on to have a good campaign. He called for patience and repeated his faith in the group: «I will try to do everything possible so that Teruel moves upwards».