Rayo Vallecano Coach Paco Jemez says his side must be brave if they are to stand any chance in Sunday's derby against Real Madrid.
Rayo welcome the aristocrats from the north of the capital to Vallecas looking to bounce back from their 4-3 reverse at the hands of Atletico in another derby last weekend.
Jemez criticised his players that day for their approach at the Vicente Calderon, when they fell four goals down before a late recovery put some gloss on the scoreline. He has now urged them to learn from their errors when they face the champions.
“If there is one team against whom we need to be brave it is this one,” Jemez said in his eve-of-game Press conference.
“The other day, against Atletico, we didn't go after the game in the first half but then in the second half, with a different attitude, we almost won it.
“I hope we don't make the same mistakes as last week. I want us to be brave, press high up the park, get hold of the ball and then see if we have the ability to take our chances.
“You can only beat Madrid by being brave. Really there are only three points at stake, but a win here would be different because of the repercussions it would have and the boost it would bring to morale.
“We want to spring a surprise and take the three points against tough opponents, who will wake up sooner or later.”
Despite his disappointment with their display in last Sunday’s derby reverse, Jemez added that motivating his players for this fixture would not be a problem.
“This is the game for which I need to motivate the players the least,” he went on.
“When you face the big teams you are already excessively motivated. If I push them even more I will drive them up the wall.
“I need to put the brakes on rather than pressure them even more because the match itself provides them with sufficient motivation.”
Jemez also insisted that he wants his side to win by playing attractive football, but he recognises that Real Madrid's difficult start to the season, with just four points taken from four games and defeats at Getafe and Sevilla, makes them even more dangerous opponents than usual.
“They have obviously not started the season well, but the fact they have lost their two away games thus far proves they can be beaten,” Jemez continued.
“It is possible, but it is also true that they won't always play the way they did at Getafe or at Sevilla, and they should eventually start climbing the table.”
Rayo come into the game with seven points and are unbeaten in their two home outings to date, having beaten Granada 1-0 and then drawn 0-0 with Sevilla in Vallecas.
