Jose Luis Mendilibar says it is imperative Osasuna get a good start to the La Liga season to inspire confidence.
The Pamplona club face Granada at El Sadar on Sunday night and, having struggled to avoid relegation last term, Mendilibar is hopeful of a more positive outcome to the 2013-14 campaign.
“I hope we start well, make a good game of it, and have a chance of winning. The pre-season is over and now the games are worth something.
“The start of the season is important for us to believe in what we are doing and it is vital the team gains in confidence,” he told a Press conference.
At the same time, Mendilibar wants his Osasuna team to play more football this year and not hide behind winning games based on a physical attitude.
“The idea is to have more options of playing with the ball and not only to run and pressurise other teams.
“My players now look happier and I think the new arrivals have adapted well and quickly.
“They are people who will bring a lot to the side. All of them are good players and in the positions they occupy we needed them.”
Mendilibar also gave his verdict on Lucas Alcaraz’s Granada outfit.
“They are a difficult team to beat, above all in centre of the pitch where they are good in the aerial department.
“The central midfielders are very dynamic. They have people who play very vertically and we’ll need to be aware of them, above all when they attack us,” he explained.
