Iago Aspas, Celta Vigo's veteran forward, has made it clear that the team's objective is to follow Barcelona's example and seek victory in every match, even against a rival of the stature of Juventus. In the pre-match press conference, the player, who is getting closer to his retirement, defended the team's style of play and expressed his desire for Celta to once again show the quality that has characterized it in recent years.
Celta is preparing for one of the most anticipated matches of the season, the first leg against Juventus in the group stage of the Champions League. Aspas, who has already recovered from a recent injury, stressed that the club has maintained a purposeful philosophy since the arrival of Claudio Giráldez to the technical direction. “In these two and a half years we have always wanted to have the ball, play in the opponent's field and be more effective than our opponents,” said the forward, referring to the need to adapt to each rival and each match.
The attacker also criticized the criticism directed at Giráldez for the team's style of play, which some consider less attractive than in the past. “We all want to be Barcelona, win 1‑4 away from home like we did on Tuesday, but not all of us have the same goals or players,” he said, alluding to the difference in resources and talent between the teams. Aspas added that Celta must “start adding three, give joy to the people at home” and that the match against Juventus will be an important test of the team's quality.
The duel takes on a special character for Celta due to the memory of the historic 4‑0 victory over Juventus in the second leg of the UEFA Cup round of 16, when the club led by Carlo Ancelotti left an indelible mark on the Balaídos stands. “It's a difficult match against a great team, one of the biggest in the competition, but they play eleven just like us,” concluded Aspas, underlining the importance of equal conditions and the need to take advantage of the home advantage.
With the expectation of an exciting match, Celta Vigo faces Juventus with the intention of showing that they are still a competitive team in Europe. Fans will hope that the purposeful style and experience of players like Aspas will lead the team to a memorable victory, as the club looks to consolidate its position in the table and advance in continental competition.