Celta Vigo vs Granada preview - Resino ready for Granada return

Posted Sunday, February 24, 2013 by PA

New Celta Vigo coach Abel Resino has made no bones about the importance of his first game in charge of the Galician club when they face his former club Granada at Balaidos.

Resino was named as Paco Herrera's successor in the Celta dugout on Monday and has inherited a club in the relegation zone, four points from safety and without a win in their last six league games.

He told reporters: "It's a huge game, as much as we have been trying to ease the tension within the team, the importance of this game is there for everyone to see, it's vital."

Resino explained that the Celta players have responded well to his first few training sessions and team-talks.

"They are conscious of the fact that they will have to do things differently if they want things to see a change in fortunes," he said.

He also emphasised his players will need to play as hard as they can throughout matches if they are to get the results they need to survive in the top flight.

He said: "We need to keep up our intensity and aggression for the whole 90 minutes. If a modest team wants to win matches in the Primera Division they have to compete for 90 minutes.

"The team has to get used to this idea, and if there is a player that can only compete for 70 minutes, then he will be substituted after 70 minutes."

Resino also spoke about the changes Granada have undergone since he was in charge of the Andalusian side last season, declaring: "When I was there we used to have the ball a lot. Now they an intense, direct, vertical team. They have bought well in the January transfer market, they have spent a lot of money."

Granada boss Lucas Alcaraz has warned that Celta will be extra motivated during the game due to having a new man in charge.

"A change of coach is always a stimulant to a team, we're going to play a different Celta side, one with distinct ideas that their new coach has given them," he said in a press conference yesterday.

He added: "This means we we will have to be even focused on our game and go out onto the pitch psyched up to try and produce the things we have working on.

"We need to show intensity and personality and create things, how we start the game will be vital."

Alcaraz has a full squad to choose from, with the exception of long-term injuries Dani Benitez and Fran Rico, while Celta will be without centre-back Andres Tunes, who has failed to recover from injury in time.