Celje coach Albert Riera does not think about failure, while hoping that he still has at least some credit: “I want hungry footballers!”

Published on 28. August 2024 28. August 2024

Photo: Luka Vovk / Sportida

There is no doubt that Albert Riera feels the pressure. In fact, one might say that the Spaniard is operating in a real chaos, for which he is, to be honest, partly to blame himself. The former coach of Olimpija and Bordeaux stirred up a hornet’s nest at the wrong time in Celje. In the midst of qualifying for the European fall, he embarked on a major squad overhaul, being very ruthless, but the team’s response was not what he had hoped for. Celje has thus been eliminated from the Champions and Europa League qualifiers, and in the league, they experienced a real disgrace on Sunday. The reigning champion was defeated 3:0 at home by league newcomer Primorje.

“Forget about Sunday; tomorrow we have a completely different game. The most important in the club’s history. Forget everything that has happened so far; we are ready for the game. The players have all the information. We have a better plan than we did in the first leg. We know the opponent, the players are prepared. As for the atmosphere in the locker room, it’s the same in the Premier League or in a lower league. If you win, the atmosphere is good; if you lose, it is bad.” Albert Riera emphasized at the press conference before the European moment of truth against Pjuniku.

Celje will be chasing a goal deficit against the Armenians, which is not much, but given the current state of the Slovenian champions, the task seems very challenging. However, could a potential exit from Europe also mean his departure? Albert Riera was quite direct about this.

Albert Riera: “I Didn’t Build This Team”

“I am not thinking about failure. I believe we will be at the appropriate level. I’m not thinking about my future either. When I assess that I can no longer improve this team, I will say it myself that I’m leaving. But you have to understand that we just play, play, and play. And travel. You see the pitch; it is what it is. I didn’t build this team, nor did I prepare it for the season. The situation is not ideal, but it is what it is. People, of course, mainly see the result, which is hard to achieve in these circumstances. I hope I still have some credit left, as I have already shown in Slovenia that my method works,” said the former top footballer, who also spent part of his career at Liverpool and Manchester City.

Albert Riera hopes and expects that the players will respond appropriately to the moment, as they are the ones who can make the most impact. Or the least. “I want hungry players! If someone isn’t, I don’t care about their age or role in the team. The club is always above us; this is my second time here, and I truly feel it. We all have to take responsibility. Mine is to prepare the plan and ensure that the players have all the information on how to execute it. The plan, in my opinion, is good; the players say they understand it. Now it is their responsibility to implement it on the pitch. If the plan doesn’t work, I will be the first to raise my hand and admit it,” the expert from Majorca concluded, adding: “The president has given the team a clear message; this is a historic moment. We feel that positive pressure before such an important game; if you don’t feel it, then you’re in the wrong job. We have to give our all; if we do, we are close to progressing. On the pitch, we have to prove we are better.“

This text was automatically translated using AI.

Author: editorial Football Planet