Tony Adams admits his Granada players feel “a little bit of relief” with relegation looming but insists he is “very excited” about facing Real Sociedad.
Failure to win on Saturday will result in Granada ending their six-year spell in La Liga, and Adams hopes his team can finally play with “freedom” after a difficult season.
“We’re going to try our best to win the game, for sure. It’s my job to push us to the last game,” the former Arsenal and England defender said at a Press conference.
“Even if we do get relegated after the game, we have three more matches, so we have to be professional and we have to get something out of the last three matches.
“We owe it to all the supporters and everyone connected with Granada CF, that we fight to the very last moment.
“I actually sense a little bit of relief. I think there’s been a little bit of freedom. There’s been huge pressure on these players, young players, inexperienced players, and if you’re not mentally tough, ready and confident, it really does affect this type of player.
“But I’ve sensed that because we are nearly down unfortunately, that there’s a little bit of a relief.
“I’ve just got to concentrate on getting the best out of players that are maybe going to be here next season.
“That’s important for me and for Granada, that we try to get the best out of those players, in the positions that they’re going to play next season, possibly for Granada. But I do feel there’s been a little bit of a relief.
“This squad couldn’t handle the amount of injuries. There was a huge problem. We’ve had three fitness coaches here already, I’ve spoken about this previously and for a squad like this, you just can’t carry three or four injuries to your best players.
“It weakens the squad, it weakens the team too much and they’ve not been able to handle that.
“I really sensed today, Ramos has been very isolated in the games that he’s played. I’ve got an option for tomorrow that he might not be so isolated.
“So I’m very excited about tomorrow’s game, I’ve got a good feeling about the match and the players I’m playing.
“Real Sociedad are a very good team, they’re going for Europe and they’re another team in very good form.
“I was very disappointed in the three versus three in midfield on Tuesday night. I thought Málaga dominated the game and that disappointed me because, at the end of the day it’s man versus man.
“Because of that I’ve changed the midfield for tomorrow. Hopefully they will be the ones to give me what I want and give Granada what they want.
“I’m expecting the younger players that I’ve put in to make a good physical contribution.”
Real Sociedad (probable): Rulli; Odriozola, Mikel, Raul Navas, Yuri; Prieto, Illarramendi, Zurutuza; Vela, Juanmi, Oyarzabal
Injuries/suspensions: Agirrtexe, Carlos Martinez, Guridi, Inigo, Willian Jose (all injured)
Granada (probable): Ochoa; Foulquier, Hongla, Ingason, Gaston; Uche, Angban, Boga; Cuenca, Adrian Ramos, Pereira
Injuries/suspensions: Kravets, Tabanou, Hector, Saunier (All injured)
Referee: Mateu Lahoz
Form guide: Real (W W L W L) Granada (L L L L D)
Previous meeting: Granada 0-2 Real
Kick-off time: 12:00 BST/13:00 CET
