- Title: Macedonia will not be an easy rival - Juan Mata
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (NOVEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** SPAIN'S NATIONAL SQUAD GATHERING AT THE PITCH FOR TRAINING SESSION SPAIN'S COACH JULEN LOPETEGUI TALKING WITH FORWARD JOSE CALLEJON AND MIDFIELDER JUAN MATA VARIOUS OF LOPETEGUI TALKING TO SQUAD / PLAYERS LISTENING PLAYERS LISTENING TO COACH PLAYERS STARTING TO RUN LOPETEGUI WITH STAFF MEMBER PLAYERS WARMING UP MIDFIELDERS SERGIO BUSQUETS AND SERGI ROBERTO, FORWARD LUCAS VAZQUEZ AND CENTRE BACK MARC BARTRA / MATA WARMING UP TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF GOALKEEPERS JOSE REINA, DAVID DE GEA AND SERGIO ASENJO TRAINING VARIOUS OF PLAYERS STRETCHING LOPETEGUI ATTENDING SESSION MIDFIELDERS ISCO ALARCON AND VITOLO MACHIN CHASING THE BALL DURING PASSING EXERCISE VARIOUS OF PLAYERS PASSING THE BALL FORWARD ALVARO MORATA AND VAZQUEZ CHASING THE BALL / VAZQUEZ AND FORWARD NOLITO HUGGING AND CHASING BALL VARIOUS OF GOALKEEPERS TRAINING STRIKER DIEGO COSTA DURING TRAINING SESSION TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS SPAIN'S FORWARD ARITZ ADURIZ AND MIDFIELDER JUAN MATA ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS CLOSEUP OF MATA CLOSEUP OF ADURIZ NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S MIDFIELDER JUAN MATA SAYING: "We will have to be really efficient with the ball, try to lose few balls, and move the ball quickly because I think that's the most efficient way to attack a crowded defence. It's not an easy match and we are aware that it will be really difficult and we are not overconfident." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S MIDFIELDER JUAN MATA SAYING: "I feel the national squad has a lot of hunger to win, with a coach that is willing to do things right and that's what he transmits when he talks to us and we feel that passion and hope that he transmits, and that hunger, to keep winning. As you say, every time there are less players from the past generation but the ones that are coming, I really think they have the skill to compete." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S MIDFIELDER JUAN MATA SAYING: "Collectively, the (Premier League) season hasn't started as we all expected, but we (Manchester United) are still in the game. In the Premier League, all the big clubs lose points in each match, and we still have the hope to reach the top places. Personally, the truth is that I'm happy, I'm enjoying it on the pitch. Last month, as a team, the results weren't great, but it was good for me." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S FORWARD ARITZ ADURIZ SAYING: "The competitiveness (amongst the forwards) is really good. It's always positive for the team to have different alternatives. We are all here to help and contribute to the national squad and I think there's also a really good atmosphere amongst us to help whenever it's needed and I'm pleased to help." ADURIZ AND MATA LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 14:52
- Keywords: Julen Lopetegui Spain World Cup Macedonia Juan Mata Aritz Aduriz
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00157V2ZPB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Spain's national team will have to move the ball quickly against Macedonia, said midfielder Juan Mata on Thursday (November 10) at a news conference previewing Saturday's (November 12) World Cup qualifying match in Granada.
"We will have to be really efficient with the ball, try to lose few balls, and move the ball quickly because I think that's the most efficient way to attack a crowded defence. It's not an easy match and we are aware that it will be really difficult and we are not overconfident," the Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata said after a training session in Madrid.
Lopetegui's side are top of qualifying Group G, level on seven points with Italy after three matches. Macedonia is at the bottom of the group tied with Liechtenstein with no points.
For Mata, the new generation squad that Lopetegui is building are capable of winning more titles and all the team feels the coach's passion.
"I feel the national squad has a lot of hunger to win, with a coach that is willing to do things right and that's what he transmits when he talks to us and we feel that passion and hope that he transmits, and that hunger to keep winning. As you say, every time there are less players from the past generation but the ones that are coming, I really think they have the skill to compete," Mata said.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been ruled out of Spain's matches against Macedonia and Tuesday's (November 15) friendly against England through injury, the Spanish football federation said on Thursday.
Costa's team mate, Aritz Aduriz, said that it is always positive to have different alternatives to play in attack and that there's a good atmosphere amongst the players fighting for the spot on the starting line-up.
"The competitiveness (amongst the forwards) is really good. It's always positive for the team to have different alternatives. We are all here to help and contribute to the national squad and I think there's also a really good atmosphere amongst us to help whenever it's needed and I'm pleased to help," said the Athletic Bilbao striker. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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