Jacobo Cuétara: “We are going to the Palau to play for first place”

Bidasoa Irun's coach, Jacobo Cuetara, faces the visit to Palau Blaugrana with the word excitement deeply etched. It has been the most repeated concept in the press conference of the Bidasoa coach who assumes the challenge of conquering the home of Barça. The Irun team is on the verge of living a historic day. The distance with the leader of the domestic competition is only two points, thanks to the draw at Artaleku (26-26) on the first day of the Plenitude League and an immaculate trajectory in which they have only conceded a defeat against Fraikin BM. Granollers (30-33).

Bidasoa Irun faces the weight of history that points out that the Basque team has accumulated 21 consecutive defeats at the Palau and has not won in Barcelona since the 93/94 season (18-19), with Tomas Svensson in the visiting goal. Marked in red in the calendar of all ASOBAL fans, this Match of the Day will have its open window on Teledeporte and on the LALIGA+ App to not miss a detail of the battle for the leadership.

Jacobo Cuetara – Bidasoa Irun Coach

“The January preparation period always costs more than the one in August. The start will be complicated, as we also analyzed in August, we are very eager and very excited. I have some doubts, we have trained very well, but we have competed very poorly. The feeling this week is very good, I see the team very excited about this match, as it cannot be otherwise”.

“We know who we are facing, I would highlight the excitement that we are going to the Palau to play for the first place and that is an objective reality. The expectations we have earned, for the draw with them here and for having lost only against Granollers and being two points behind Barça. It has been a long time since this happened in the ASOBAL League and we have earned the right to savor it, enjoy it and have that excitement of going on Saturday to play for the first place”.

“It is a complicated feat, we are perhaps talking about the best team in the world. We will go with some injury and seven U23 players to play against Barça at the Palau. We will go with cheekiness and excitement that we have demonstrated many times. We intend to surprise and achieve what no one has achieved for many years. It is a great challenge for a great feat”.

“It's the same old Barça, always at a high level and with great players. We have to do our thing, play our game, do well what makes us strong and be competitive. We must forget a little about the rival, we already know who they are and the quality they have”.