Arrasate won't panic

Posted Saturday, September 28, 2013 by PA

Real Sociedad coach Jagoba Arrasate has called for calm in light of his team's disappointing run of results, which he is hoping to bring to an end when his side host Sevilla on Saturday.

La Real have not won a Primera Division game since the first day of the season, and were on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat at Barcelona in midweek, conceding three goals in the opening 23 minutes.

"I think it is too soon to start talking about an emergency situation, but that doesn't mean we feel any less obliged to start winning," Arrasate told reporters.

The coach insisted that his players were intent on changing their fortunes, and was certain that would happen.

"More than feeling obliged, we are eager to win and turn this situation around," he said.

"Barely a month ago people said we were the best team around, now they say we're the worst.

"We are the same team, we have the same coach and I'm sure we'll get back to our best."

La Real's injury problems deepened with the news that Xabi Prieto will be out of action for three weeks after he tore a thigh muscle against Barcelona.

However, Arrasate revealed that Gorka Elustondo's condition has improved and he could face Sevilla, as could David Zurutuza, who missed the Barca game through injury.

Although his team's season has been blighted by injuries, Arrasate said: "We've had a lot of injuries but there's not much we can do about it.

"Injuries come and go, and I hope they go away soon."

Sevilla head to San Sebastian after registering their first league win of the season, beating Rayo Vallecano 4-1 to move off the bottom of the table.

Arrasate admitted there "are two sides" to Unai Emery's side but was sure his team would have to fight hard to beat them.

"They are an inconsistent team but they are starting to play well and they are dangerous because we don't know which Sevilla we will meet," he said.

"We expect they'll be at their best and we know we have to beat them."

Sevilla are one of the few teams in the league to have even bigger injury problems than Real Sociedad.

Denis Cheryshev tore a hamstring in the Rayo match and will miss the tie, as will Stephane Mbia, who hurt his toe in the game.

The pair are just two of seven players on the Emery's absentee list, which also contains Jose Antonio Reyes, Vitolo, Fabricio Fazio, Cicinho, Fernando Navarro and Daniel Carrico.