‘La Real calm, but need result’

Real Sociedad defender Carlos Martinez has looked to ease pressure at Real Sociedad, but still admits that they need a result away to Bayer Leverkusen.

La Real are winless from their last six games in La Liga and the Champions League combined and head out to Germany this Wednesday evening looking for a result.

With the pressure on, having lost their opening Group A match to Shakhtar Donetsk, the team’s first-choice right-back admits that it doesn’t make the team’s task any easier.

“We are not favourites nor are we in Cinderella. Leverkusen are a very strong team at home,” conceded Martinez to reporters this week.

“They play a very attacking game and possess a lot of speed. We are in the Champions League for something, though, and so will have to rise to the occasion.

“The next games are very important for Real. Having lost the first game [in the Champions League] at home, and with this competition as short as it is, we have to go to Germany to tighten up and come back with at least a point.

“It shall be a tough game, but we will go there with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement.”

Martinez reflected on the San Sebastian side’s run of form, which sees them without a win for the month of September.

“We are not worried about the current run of form. We are annoyed, but not worried. We have a great team and the results will return.

“Yes we lack a bit of sparkle. We knew that this was going to be a tricky start, with many games, and it is costing us to create chances and score goals as we did last year.

“This year, teams are arriving that, in theory, aspire to attack, but when you see their team line-up or formation, it is clear that they will play defensively.

“We have experienced this as a result of last year, because teams know that we are dangerous in space and so what they have been doing is retreating back.

“The Coach? I believe that Jagoba is very clam and that it is showing. He knows the potential of the team and that, sooner or later, we will come out ahead.

“He is leading us very well and things are working fine. Neither he nor us are nervous about this winless streak so early on.

“The victories and our style of play will come. This experience has to serve us. Last year it was looking bad around this time too. We are capable of the best.”

Tags Bayer Leverkusen Carlos Martinez
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