Oviedo's Viñas: 'Girona clash is our World Cup final'
Uruguayan striker Fede Viñas emphasizes the critical importance of Oviedo's upcoming fixture against Girona in their desperate battle against relegation.
As Real Oviedo sit nine points adrift from safety, Fede Viñas has laid bare the absolute desperation of their situation ahead of Saturday’s crucial clash with Girona.
‘Our World Cup final’
The Uruguayan forward didn’t mince his words when discussing the importance of this weekend’s match, revealing that even the gaffer has elevated its significance to the highest possible level.
“For us, as the boss said earlier in the gym, the match against Girona is the World Cup final,” Viñas declared, making crystal clear that nothing short of victory will suffice for the struggling side.
The sense of urgency is palpable throughout the squad, with Viñas acknowledging the rapidly shrinking timeframe to secure their top-flight status:
“We know time is running out and we need wins. Very important matches are coming up, but the most crucial is Saturday’s at Girona. We need to get the victory and then we’ll think about the rest.”
Barcelona blues
Still smarting from their recent defeat to Barcelona, Viñas expressed frustration at how Oviedo competed well in the first half but ultimately paid dearly for their mistakes. It’s been a recurring theme for the team, who’ve shown improvement in recent weeks without translating it into precious points.
“The bitterness comes from having played well over the last month, going ahead on the scorecard several times, but then not knowing how to hold onto it,” he explained.
Breaking the psychological barrier
With Oviedo nine points from safety, Viñas admitted the mental challenge is enormous but insisted they must persevere:
“It’s difficult to manage being nine points from safety. Until the mathematics say otherwise, we’ll keep trying. We need to break the psychological barrier and achieve that coveted victory. If we achieve it, I believe we’ll go up.”
Viñas pointed to Saturday’s opponents Girona as an example of how fortunes can change, noting they were previously in a similar predicament before stringing together some wins.
Attacking struggles
The striker also addressed Oviedo’s goalscoring troubles, suggesting new arrival Almada has added attacking aggression and created chances, though goals remain elusive. Despite the collective responsibility, Viñas accepts the primary burden falls on the forwards.
Showing remarkable personal resilience amid the club’s dire situation, Viñas concluded: “I’ve never gone so long without winning. Personally, I’m managing it quite well – I try to stay positive.”
One thing’s certain – this Girona match is proper make-or-break for the Carbayones. Time to see if they can pull a rabbit out of the hat.