Alessio Lisci: “We have to play a smart game, take our chances and go all out”

The Italian coach spoke to the media ahead of Osasuna vs. Athletic

Osasuna head coach Alessio Lisci spoke at a press conference ahead of Saturday's home match against Athletic. Kickoff is scheduledfor 4:15 p.m. CET (3:15 p.m. GMT/10:15 a.m. ET). Speaking to the media, Lisci stressed the importance of starting the new month on the right foot.

“When a period like our January comes along, it’s important to start it well. So the challenge is Athletic Club,” Lisci said. “They are a top team and have now recovered all of their attacking players. They haven’t performed like last year because they had significant injuries, but now they’re getting everyone back and you can tell it’s a different team. Surely they’ll return to what they were doing last season. It’s a very, very difficult game, and we have to stay focused on the first challenge of this month.”

“For tomorrow, we have to play a smart game, make the most of our good moments and go all out, and then know how to suffer when it’s time to suffer,” he added. “A bit like what we’ve done in our recent home matches against Levante and Alavés.”

At his first news conference of the year, the Italian coach emphasized the importance of maintaining the momentum the team carried into 2025.

“We’ve worked a lot on the mental side, and luckily we finished the year well,” Lisci said. “That puts you in a mindset where, no matter who comes, you’re confident you can win, and that’s very important mentally. Obviously, unfortunately, we’re not going to win every match between now and the end of the year, but having the feeling that you’re mentally strong is fundamental.”

“Athletic is not an easy team”

Looking at the opponent, the 40-year-old said Athletic poses a constant threat.

“Athletic is not an easy team because they have two players who can change a game at any moment: Sancet and Nico,” he said. “Whoever plays up front is always dangerous, and then there’s Berenguer, a player who can create things with very little — crosses from both sides withboth feet, and shots as well. They’re the kind of players you think you have under control, but the moment you lose focus, they hurt you.”

“We’ve focused a lot on having cover, especially against those players, so that if someone switches off, we have nearby help to compensate for the mistake,” he added.