Munitis: “If we succeed with the remaining signatures, we will be a team of soldiers”

Barely a month after being introduced as the new coach of Deportivo Lugo, Pedro Munitis reappeared in the Ángel Carro press room. This time in solitude, without leaders from either side — in his debut he was seconded by the president and the sports director — and once again revealed that he is a coach who is not a slave to any strategy, is a friend of improvisation and who values ​​the human side of football players as much or more than the sports side. At the end of the morning session of another working day at the O Ceao municipal ground, brand new coach Albivermello made himself available to the media to talk about the team’s present and future.

PRE-SEASON

“We are on the right track”

The Cantabrian strategist said he was “delighted” with how things are going in the first days of work. “We are happy. It is a time when football players are under great stress on all levels, physical, technical, tactical and mental, and the mood and tolerance for work is still very good for everyone. This is the line, we are on the right track,” he said.

playing style

“We want a versatile team”

As he already did in his presentation, Pedro Munitis insisted that he will not stick to a single game system: «On the offensive level, the idea is to transform depending on the pressure and mood of the opponent; if they play with a defense of five, then maybe we will start with two strikers… At the defensive level, we work with 1-4-4-2, but that can change as well. We have to wait for the final composition of the team, the structure will adapt to our players and our abilities. The main idea is to be a very versatile team and be protagonists whenever possible.”

signatures are awaited

“The back is practically done”

“Two midfielders, two wings, two other forwards and a striker.” These are the seven signings that Lugo is waiting for, although Pedro Munitis admitted that the continuity of Carlos Torrado in the first team is not clear and that another footballer could come to compete with Carlos Julio on the right side: «The back is practically finished. We are waiting to see Carlos [Torrado], who unfortunately was almost unable to train due to blisters. In the absence of that decision, the rest is over,” explained the coach, convinced that they succeeded with all the reinforcements and hoping that the remaining ones will suffer the same fate: “If we succeed with the remaining signings, especially in human terms, we will have a team of soldiers.

deadlines

“Market times are not the same for everyone”

Will Lugo start the league with a closed squad? His coach has serious doubts: “It’s hard to know. Market times are not the same for everyone. There are teams, like Ibiza or Deportivo, who can raise the pace financially, but we will not complain at all. We have clear things and that is the most important thing.

calendar

“It seems perfect to me to play the first two league games at home”

Lugo will play at home against Teruel and Deportivo in the first two league matches. Munitis doesn’t believe that this means more pressure: “Something I can’t get involved in doesn’t take away my energy.” It is, as it is. It seems perfect to me to play the first two league games at home, just as if we played them abroad.

friendly

“They are important for creating habits”

Rojiblanco will play six preparatory games. “It will allow us to check whether we are doing well or badly, see what we have to influence. They are important for forming habits. It is an important moment on many levels, not so much in terms of results,” Munitis said in this regard.

Cuéllar’s future: “It is integrated and receptive”

Jaume Cuéllar is the only footballer from the current team who remains from last year — apart from those from the branch who go to the first team — and his future is currently with the Albivermellos team. There are many voices saying that he will go on loan, and Pedro Munitis does not clarify anything. “The only thing I can say is that we are very satisfied with his work. Physically, he is an animal, he has brutal power, he is integrated and receptive,” said the coach.

Adaptation

“Lugo is a city with a lot of charm”

Munitis is progressing at a good pace in the adaptation process. The team and above all the city. “I am happy. First because I have the opportunity to do what I love, and also because I do it in this club and in this city. We still saw very little of the city, but I could already see that Lugo is a city with a lot of charm and a lot of life. Also, I really like the north. I identify with this area because of the weather, gastronomy and lifestyle of its people,” admitted coach Albivermella.

domestic players

“They are in a very good line”

Waiting to see Torrado in action, Munitis had words of praise for the other three homegrown players who have also made it to the first team, Castrín, Antonetti and Idrisso: “They are working very well and are very receptive to the new systems and what we want from each of them on the pitch.”