Paco Jemez has told of the secrets behind his success at Rayo Vallecano and determined that they won’t change this weekend in welcoming Atletico Madrid.
The Madrid minnows welcome their city neighbours to Vallecas sitting in seventh place in the table, level on points with Valencia in the final Europa League position.
“Facing Atletico we will not change our philosophy, we are the same whether we play against Sevilla, Atletico or Real Madrid,” Jemez told reporters this week, in anticipation of the game.
“Atletico are a team that is doing very well. On Sunday we will need greater effort and patience than in previous games, because we will be exposed.
“They do not mind giving the ball away in midfield because going forward they still make good on their chances.”
Jemez was asked a series of questions to try and understand why his Rayo side are doing so well and why, first up, he is so optimistic as their Coach.
“A pessimistic Coach is bad for a team. We are the first reflex to the dressing room and the players need someone to introduce the optimism, because the mood is important in football.
“Life has shown me that the brave are those that succeed, even if sometimes it doesn’t work out. I know how I want to play and how I want my team to win.
“Sacrifice, hope and courage are the secrets, because we have less talent than others. We expose ourselves and have gambled so as to narrow the difference.
“It is our essence and with the ball at our feet we are doing well. We need to have possession, because we do not have the quality of others and we have to take our chances.
“Otherwise, we need to generate many more scoring chances. The fight is to show us where we can go, with the lowest budget in the League and a Coach who is a novice in La Primera.”
