Jagoba Arrasate: "We need the strength of El Sadar"

Jagoba Arrasate addressed reporters Friday ahead of Saturday's match against Athletic Club at El Sadar. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CET (5:30 p.m. GMT, 12:30 p.m. ET). Arrasate discussed Osasuna's preparations and Athletic Club's strengths during the news conference.

 Before the news conference began, Arrasate offered condolences to the family of Jesús de Miguel and the Tenerife community.

 “These are difficult days because I don’t know if anyone is truly prepared to face a tragedy like this on the field,” Arrasate said. “Much has been said already, and I recently read —I think it was by Jorge Valdano— that perfectly summed it up. I share those words and send a big hug, especially to the family, friends, Tenerife and everyone affected.”

 Arrasate then previewed Saturday’s match, explaining that Osasuna prepared by studying recent games at El Sadar. He emphasized the importance of securing a positive result as the league standings tighten.

“We have focused on our matches at El Sadar, and I think Athletic Club arrives in strong form with three straight victories, positive momentum and key players returning,” Arrasate said. “They are dangerous, especially if we let them dictate the game. We have to do the opposite. We need the strength of El Sadar, and I believe we have reasons to compete, to hurt them, and to get a good result tomorrow.

“The standings are tight, and I don’t know how the league will finish, but it looks similar to last year,” he added. “We have that experience, and we know we need to win. We have two home matches now, but there’s a break in between, so all our energy is focused on tomorrow’s game.”

"If they find space, they will punish you"

Arrasate highlighted Athletic Club’s recent vertical style of play and noted that Osasuna must be cautious when pressing, as Athletic can easily exploit open spaces and create opportunities.

 “With [Athletic Club head coach Edin] Terzić, they have made some changes. Building from the back, they have more options and variations. They used to rely on a traditional three-man buildup, but in recent games, they have played much more vertically. If they find space, they will punish you. We like to press and be brave, but we must be careful because if we leave space behind, they have players who can exploit it, and that is not the type of match we want. We want to play in the opponent’s half and make things happen there. Tomorrow, finishing plays and maintaining vigilance will be decisive, not just important.”