Adams critical of Granada squad

Tony Adams has asserted that Granada’s preseason “wasn’t done correctly”, his players cannot keep up with his training methods and “lots aren’t good enough”.

Adams has lost all five of his games since replacing Lucas Alcaraz on an interim basis last month, with just one goal scored in that time, prompting the former Arsenal and England defender to slam Paco Jemez – who began the season in charge of the Andalusians – and the club’s recruitment last summer.

“Gaston [Silva’s] wife is expecting a baby, either today or tomorrow, so I’ve given him the day off on family leave,” he said at a Press conference for Saturday’s trip to similarly-relegated Osasuna in La Liga.

“Hector [Hernandez] for me hasn’t done enough training in the last two and a half weeks to be in contention to play, Wakaso for that fact either, on Wednesday he was throwing up, so for me the two of them weren’t in contention, they’ve not played enough football.

“I’m told Foulquier has played eight or nine times at left-back last season, and he looked pretty good in training today, so Foulquier will slip into that position tomorrow.

“We’ve got a few little knocks, Aly Malle picked up a little knock in training today, so did Carcela, and Cuenca also, but we’re going to take the three of them up to Osasuna and give them another 24 hours. We will look at them in the morning.

“I got them all together and I spoke to them this morning. I think it’s very important that their heads are not on holiday just yet.

“I spoke to the group and said that we’ve got a few more training sessions, two very important matches and we need to focus, apply ourselves and be professional. We can’t book our holidays just yet!

“I will go up to Osasuna and demand that they be professional, that they give everything and they try to win the game.

“Atzili? His grandfather died and I’ve given him compassionate leave. He’s very distraught, so I’ve given him compassionate leave to go home and be with his grandfather and his family.

“At this time of the season, because physically the pre-season wasn’t done correctly for me and we’ve had so many injuries.

“They’re not at the level of the intensity at which I’m training and you run the risk of getting even more injuries.

“Kravets is still in there injured, and there’s lots of players that can’t play. Lots of players that are not good enough, so you run the risk of not being able to put seven substitutes on the bench. So we have to be very careful physically.

“Osasuna? They’re going to be fighting for pride and their supporters as well. It’s going to be a very tough game, it’s not a dead game.

“We’re going to prepare and we’ve got a few surprises. Hopefully our players will perform to their maximum and we can get a first away win of the season, which will lift everybody I think.

“I came into this position and I’m trying to get the best out of the players that we’re possibly going to keep for next season, that are signed. Osasuna… I want to win every match, whether it’s against Osasuna or Real Madrid.

“I will approach this no other way. I actually do still think I can win every game. Don’t bother going if you’re not going to do that.

“It is a very important game for us. We’ll be fighting to the end of the season, in every match, in every ball, in every tackle, to win the match.

“New Coach? We are very close… We think we’ve got our man. We’re just going to make sure that it’s the right one.

“We need a little bit more research and then we can get him in.

“We know we need to get him in ASAP because Manolo (Salvador) has very much started with the recruitment process, you need your coach as well to confirm the signings of players.”

Osasuna (probable): Sirigu; Berenguer, Oier, Vujadinovic, Steven, Clerc; Roberto Torres, Loe, Causic; Sergio Leon, Kenan

Injuries/suspensions: Diop, Javi Lopez, Oscar Duarte, Jose Antonio Reyes, Roberto, Salva (I)

Granada (probable): Ochoa; Vezo, Ingason, Hongla, Foulquier; Angban, Uche; Boga, Pereira, Malle; Adrian Ramos

Injuries/suspensions: Kravets, Tabanou, Saunier (I) Gaston, Hector, Samper, Kone, Wakaso, Atzili (omitted)

Referee: Vicandi Garrido

Form guide: Osasuna (L D L D L) Granada (L L L L L)

Previous meeting: Granada 1-1 Osasuna

Kick-off time: 17:30 BST/18:30 local time

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La Liga - Club News