“We signed more than just a coach,” said David Fernández, sporting director of Real Oviedo, this Tuesday at the presentation of Real Madrid legend Raúl González. The former white footballer met this morning with his new players after his time in Madrid's youth ranks in what will be his first challenge in an elite team. “After a time without training, I had the illusion of being able to choose a place with tradition and a city that has a passion for football,” the new Carbayón coach began. "What I was looking for I have found in Oviedo. A serious property, which has been around for a while, with a sports city that is one of the keys to continue growing. There are people in the sports and general management who I feel can do what I have in mind. I think I can contribute many things."
In his first press conference, Raúl González showed great desire and enthusiasm to be in charge of a team whose objective is to return to the First Division after being relegated last season. Oviedo is now ninth in the standings, just one point away from the promotion playoff. Such is the demand in the club that despite achieving a victory in Cádiz last weekend, the board struck down Julián Calero by losing confidence in him. "When there is a change of coach there is always uncertainty. But I think I already have the feeling that I have been here for a while," said the new coach, who has already had his first meeting with the captains and the rest of the squad. "I have seen the team very well; they want to do things well, I want a team that makes the fans feel."
The new Oviedo coach has also highlighted the squad he will have in this new adventure on the bench. "There is a good balance between young people and seniority. I have to be satisfied with the start of the season, but Segunda is a competition that is very tough. We want to live up to what this city demands. We are in a period of seeing the dynamics of the team and the work that has been done before. We have a period before Christmas in which we have a series of matches that will give us a lot of information. But this is about results and on Saturday we have the first test."
Raúl likes what he sees in his boys, “a team with a lot of intensity, aggressive, vertical and that knows how to defend.” The coach, a former Real Madrid player, has said that he wants a team with “balance” and that there will be things from his previous stage as a coach that he will rescue due to his way of working. “We have to convince the players to acquire the concepts,” Raúl detailed.
The first test with Oviedo in their debut on the bench in professional football will be a very important duel to make a good jump in the standings that can boost the team morally, something that is crucial in the Second Division. Raúl will make his debut at the Carlos Tartiere in front of his fans and will do so against Girona (Saturday, 9:00 p.m.; Movistar+), another of the relegated teams that aspires to promotion and is eighth with the same points as the team from Oviedo. "We are going to evaluate everything, knowing that in each game we have to get three points. The important thing is to be well positioned to be able to fight for the objective of being in the First Division," Raúl stated.
