Preciado (Sporting Gijon): "Strange things happen"

Speaking to Madrid radio station Radio Marca, Sporting Gijón manager Manuel Preciado commented on tonight's league game against Barcelona:

"We would have preferred to have a normal match day so we wouldn't have to play on Monday, but these things happen and you cannot do anything against it.

The players will go out there to compete, trying to win the game. We prefer a 0-0 over a 4-0 but we go to the Camp Nou without fear. We are modest but in football very strange things can happen. In general, I am satisfied about my team, although the injuries will cost us. Two strikers at the Camp Nou? Now that would be suicide (smiles). The few times we will have the ball, we will need to approach their goal as quickly as possible."

At a press conference, Preciado added: "I cannot wait for this season to start, I'm very excited about it. Even more so because we start in the Camp Nou. Against the treble winners, a team that plays great football and has some impressive players.

But we're not going there to lose. Even knowing that it will be very difficult, if we want to do something we will have to be courageous and bold. This year we have more experience, we cannot have so much fear anymore. That doesn't mean that they cannot again score five goals against us, although it will be in a different way because I want my team to keep a cooler head."

Read more:
Barral (Sporting Gijon): "We have our chances"