Osasuna’s ‘desire intact’

Osasuna may have lost some key players this summer, but defender Marc Bertran is optimistic that ambition and aptitude at the club remains unbroken.

Los Rojillos kick off their La Liga campaign on Monday night with a trip to newly-promoted Deportivo with a new-look squad.

The likes of Raul Garcia, Dejan Lekic, Ibrahima Balde, Sergio Fernandez and Javad Nekounam are notable departures, but Bertran is insistent that Osasuna’s spirit remains in place for Week 1.

“We’re content. Some important players have gone, but our current players are doing very well in pre-season,” he told the Press today.

“We are convinced that we will compete very well this year and again have some important players.

“We are hopeful of a good season, when everything goes well and the expectations we have now are pretty good.”

The 30-year-old right-back reflected on what those expectations might be. The team finished seventh in 2011-12.

“There are two teams well above the rest, a group of three to five with European ambitions and then a tremendous equality. We should be fighting as high as possible, as we did last year.

“The team did very well last year. We know it will be difficult to have a season like last year again, but we start with our desire intact and we want to do well again and will give everything to make it happen.”

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La Liga - Club News