Valverde: "If you are confident Madrid will knock you down"

Has the team recovered after their cup exploits?

We hope so. We are not used to playing every three days. The game comes quite soon after the semi-final, it will be draining but we will see if we can endure it. We spoke about this before Eibar and Espanyol – and we won.

Should the cup victory have a positive impact on the team?

It is something noticeable in the squad, we always talk about what wins can generate. To reach a final means a lot to the club. We must take some of that and take it into Saturday’s match. The opposition are specialists in knocking you down a peg or two when you are a bit confident, and when you are playing well.

The team played well in Barcelona...

Now are have become a bit more used to playing in these games, in big games last season and this season and a kind of final against Napoli. The team has some experience. Espanyol prepared as they did for the first leg and we knew we needed to be very strong, try to counter-attack and try to score. We played a game we needed to at just the right time.

Madrid come into the game after a draw against Villarreal…

It is a drama every time they drop points. They are the leaders and they deserve respect. When there is a fight between Madrid and Barça, every game they do not win brings a mini crisis. I see no offset. In the first match between us Madrid were enjoying their best form of the season and for us it was our worst point. We went into the game with just four points and we were losing in the Champions League. We hope things are different this time.

How do you plan to make up for the loss of San José?

I have something in mind. He will be a miss for us, San José is good offensively and defensively, he gives us a lot of things. We’re also without Iturraspe.

It is rare for Madrid to face an opponent with more rest – is that a handicap for you?

Logically, yes, it will have an impact. We want to get something important from the match and make up for that difference. Madrid have players with great technical and physical qualities, they are very quick, like athletes.

Unai López is having his ups and downs. The player of the moment is Williams. How good can he be?

I like what I see. He wants to learn and he is attentive to defensive work despite his qualities in attack. Unai can play more inside, he needs to have permanent involvement with the ball. Now we need players with more speed.

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