Michel on Blind, Vanat, Van de Beek, Beltrán, the rival ..

Injuries and team status: “Vanat will not play again this season due to his injury. He will be out for ten weeks, and it is important. But the reality is that we have to turn the page because there is nothing we can do. More or less Stuani is getting a better version of himself after his injury, as is Abel. We have to continue with what is left. We have to play now without Vanat, who is an important absence, but we have to think about what lies ahead. Blind has discomfort. Today he did part of the training without the ball and we have to think about tomorrow whether he is fit to play or not. He is not definitely out, but it is unlikely he will make it to the match. Then we have the long-term absences of Juan Carlos, Ter Stegen, Portu, and Van de Beek. The team is doing well because against Villarreal we played a great game. We know how difficult it is to play at the Bernabéu, but the team is ready to play a match of these characteristics.”

Good time to visit Madrid? “I don’t look at the standings or at what a team has to play before or after. I look at the match, and playing at the Bernabéu is never easy, quite the opposite. Normally it is a match of suffering and we have to go in with that feeling. Madrid leads in many attacking aspects, ball recovery, shots on goal... it can be, along with Barça, one of the toughest teams to play against. There are no good moments to play at the Bernabéu. But we can control what we do, which is to play an amazing game as a team, have a top mentality, and be able to suffer together. We have to look ahead whenever possible, not be stuck. We want things to happen, but it will be very complicated. That’s the reality. If it’s not easy to play at the Bernabéu for Bayern, City, Barça, or Atlético, it won’t be easy for us either. We will have to play a great game and hope they perform below their standard to get a positive result. We can show our best version and we’ll see what that means, but it will definitely be a good test.”

The match against Madrid on a personal level: “The reality is that I always look at the coach I’m facing. I think about how he plays, the differences Madrid has now with the new coach, and the way to try to stop their game and the possibility to hurt them. Do I like playing at the Bernabéu? I like, always, playing at Montilivi. That is the stage where I always want to play. Going to the Bernabéu is great, but I look at their coach and their rival team. Nothing more. My focus does not depend on the venue I am in. The most important thing is what the opponent does and how to stop him, which will not be easy.”

The first-round draw: “It’s different because now there is another coach (from Xabi Alonso to Arbeloa). Now they play with longer fullbacks, the midfield goes between the defense and the fullback to get out with the ball in 2+3. Upfront they play differently. Madrid has changed and it won’t be the same as in the first round.”

Van de Beek: “In a few weeks he will be part of the team training. Very good news. I’m happy for him because he has had a tough time and is in a very important phase of his recovery. I try to talk to players who can’t play but still form part of the team. Whenever I can, I do with him, Portu, and Juan Carlos. I need them, not to play but because they are an important part of the team.”

Fran Beltrán: “He is tired, that’s why he didn’t train today.”

Can Madrid win LaLiga? “Real Madrid has chances to win LaLiga, of course. They still have to go play at Camp Nou and Madrid has to win every match. They have that requirement. After a loss, even more. I expect Real Madrid’s best version because they have time to recover for the Champions League return leg. They need to win LaLiga because they are seven points behind and have no margin for error. But we also need points. It’s not the best match to say we need to win, but we do need points to reach 42. We will do everything in our power. I need a collective mentality, not to be overexcited or say it doesn’t matter if Madrid beats us.”

Mbappé: “It’s the demand of the best players in the world. The other day he played an amazing match and in Mallorca, in the first 20 minutes, he generated a lot and had many goal chances. He is LaLiga’s top scorer. He is a differential player and one of the best forwards in the world along with Kane. He is very difficult to stop, with many tricks. These players live with the demand and every three days they have an exam, but they are able to perform. I expect Madrid’s best version because after a defeat they need to win. Madrid’s margin for error is now zero.”

His experience at the Bernabéu: “It’s just another match, I don’t give it more importance than another match. It will be very difficult and complicated. If we win it will be more than three points, like against Barça. Normally Madrid wins 90% of matches. Beating Madrid is more than three points because from now until the end of the League normally they will win all or seven.”

Retro kit: “I have the Girona jersey with ‘8’ and my name. I like it a lot. My wife told me it’s a bit big, that I could have asked for an S. I have it and I really like this jersey. They are our colors, our history and it’s good. My PowerPoint starts with ‘three times immortal,’ I really like the story. We have it and it’s very good. You always have to remember what others have done so that we are here right now.”