Koeman's message to forget the sins of the Supercopa final: "We have to be hungry to attack"

Ronald Koeman and Marc-André ter Stegen have been the spokesmen of Barça before the Cup final this Saturday (21.30 h, Telecinco). A win against Athletic Club could mean the first title of the season for the azulgrana team and for the Dutch coach since he sits on the bench at Camp Nou. "It's important for the club to be able to win an important title this season, it's a beautiful thing. I don't think about whether I'm playing for my future in this game, I think about what's best for the team. Since the Supercopa, despite the defeat against Madrid in the Liga, we had a very good run", said the Dutch coach, who added that he "does not need" a public ratification of Joan Laporta regarding his continuity: "I have spoken to him and he has shown me his trust. I know what club I'm in and you have to win things, despite the circumstances we have lived this year. I know what happens if we win the final and what happens if we lose it. I know what a coach's job is and the pressure it puts on me. TThe fact that after a run of nineteen unbeaten Liga games you are being asked about your continuity is proof of that".

Koeman, who has assured that Piqué is available - "he has trained well during the last days and can play the final" -, has valued the fact of having a title close at hand and the fact of having to face Ahtletic Club for the fourth time this season: "We have suffered a lot to be in this final. Now we have to enjoy it. When we've beaten them, it's been by the narrowest of margins. We have to be good with the ball and, above all, without it. I don't think we've been good in the last few games, especially without the ball. When we lose the ball we have to be better positioned. We are a team with a hunger to attack, that goes without saying, but as we play with a lot of advanced players we have to be very attentive when we lose the ball".

In this sense, the coach didn't want to evaluate if the defensive concentration will be improved by changing the scheme or keeping the three central defenders. "The system is not the most important thing. What we need is to have energy and that our important players stand out", he said, without giving clues to the rival.

Ter Stegen: "We're very clear about what we have to do: we're all on the same page"

"Let's hope the same thing doesn't happen to us as it did in the last Supercopa final. I think we were better, but you could see that they were tired, because we had to play extra time in the semi-finals. It will be a difficult game but we'll be ready, we've learned from what happened", said Ter Stegen. "We're very excited about winning a final and if we win, we'll have a very good feeling. If we lose, it's the opposite. But we do not have to mix it with the Liga. This final is a Copa final and the Liga is another competition. If we win, it will help us to face the rest of the season, but now we are only focused on this final. We're all very clear about what we have to do and we're all on the same page", added the German goalkeeper.

"We've fought hard to be in this final, we've worked hard. Now we have to do our job. Before the national team stoppage we were doing very well and the stoppage was an interruption in the work we do with the club. The objective is to bring the title to Barcelona, but we know we'll have to play a very complete game. I was really looking forward to playing in a Copa final again", continued Ter Stegen. "I don't give much importance to the captain's armband. Not because I don't respect it, but because I think that all the players who have been here for the longest time have to help the young players".