Javier Aguirre says we will have to be at our best to get a result against Real Sociedad ahead of our clash at the Reale Arena on Saturday afternoon.
La Real were a familiar foe last season having faced them both in the league and cup, and Aguirre believes his side will need to work hard against a side which includes former star Take Kubo.
“We have played good games against Real, although they have been superior to the last three clashes,” he told journalists at his pre-match press conference. "Real is a team that plays very good football, they manage very well all the facets of the game.
“I admire the coach a lot. I love him, he is a sensational person. He loves his colors very much. Like Kang In-Lee last year, They have players who have something, something different.
"You always get what you worked for and this team works hard. We are where we deserve to be, we have done no more than this and hopefully we will be able to improve those figures. We have worked both formations, and I think we can already feel comfortable with a line of four.”
With Pablo Maffeo, Sergi Darder and Antonio Raíllo working hard on their recoveries, the boss also gave an update on Cyle Larin.
"He and Maffeo are crazy because they shorten their recovery deadlines in an exaggerated way. In the case of Raillo he is a month ahead and Maffeo is two weeks early. Sergi is a different player, one that we didn't have. It is an important casualty as is Maffeo and Raillo.
"Now Cyle Larin is at the level of Abdón and Muriqui, he is the Cyle we saw last year and he will have minutes this game.”