Joseba Etxeberria: I'm very motivated and have a lot of confidence in the players and we’ll work together to show it.

Joseba Etxeberria was presented as the new coach of SD Eibar at Ipurua on Tuesday afternoon. Accompanied by SD Eibar president Amaia Gorostiza and by sporting director César Palacios, the Basque coach emphasised that “this is the place where I want to be and I'd like to thank all of Eibar for placing their trust in me”.

Speaking at an introductory press conference, Joseba Etxeberria also stressed that “I'm very motivated and have a lot of confidence in the players and we’ll work together to show it”.

ON JOINING SD EIBAR

“As soon as we heard about Eibar’s interest, we stopped everything we were discussing with another club. I’m a big believer in the potential of this club, as I’ve seen this club grow and I believe I’ll have all the tools necessary to have a great season. This is the place where I want to be and I'd like to thank all of Eibar for placing their trust in me. I arrive with all the desire in the world, and I want us to be a very competitive team every game. It’s important to have stability and to believe in what you do. We’re very clear about how we want to play and how we must train to play that way. With the technical level of the players, everything will be easier.”

ON HIS STYLE OF PLAY

“What I try to transmit to my players is what I feel, which is playing football with a lot of passion. I try to make my teams very intense, so they can play for a long time at a high tempo. To do this, it’s important that the ball circulation is very quick and, with technically good players, everything is much easier. I want to see a very competitive Eibar from the first matchday, attacking and defending all together. I think there is potential and those coming in will arrive with hunger. We believe that we’re going to have a lot of tools to do things well. I want a lot of things to happen in the matches and I think we have the potential to play this way. We have to be ready for each of the 42 matchdays. It’s important to have stability, and I believe a lot in the day-to-day work.”

ON THE NEW CHALLENGE

“I'm very excited and that's what I've felt from day one. It’s true that Eibar just had two attempts where they fell short of achieving promotion, but you have to give credit to the amount of points Eibar have taken and the difference in goals scored and goals conceded. Taking over Gaizka’s team makes things much easier for you and we are going to benefit from the legacy he has left behind in many aspects. Every coach is different and I will try to put my own touches so that the team can play the way I want them to, but the numbers are there. This is a squad with a very high level and we have to try to play as a team and we need to make sure each player is very clear about their role. We have to play as a team, so that the team benefits from each player and so that each player sees that the team works and that it is a solid unit. We’re going be bold in the final third of the pitch, as this is the Eibar I want to see.”

ON THE FANS

“I want the fans to know about the motivation I’m bringing. I’m aware of what those two failed attempts have meant, but we’re going to have a very good team and we’re going to try to convey this to the players so that they regain that confidence. We want to be aware that there is a high level and we’ll work together to show it. I’m very motivated, as this is a very good challenge, and I have a lot of confidence in the players, as I know their level and the level of the club I’m at.”