Valladolid 3 - 3 Tenerife

Real boss calls for courage

Updated: November 28, 2009, 10:13 AM UK

Real Valladolid coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has urged his side to be "more courageous'' as they bid to pull away from the relegation zone in La Liga.

Mendilibar's side are currently 15th, one place above opponents Tenerife in the table. After a poor start to the season Valladolid's results improved until last weekend's comprehensive 3-1 defeat at resurgent Villarreal.

And Mendilibar has urged his side to be braver with the ball ahead of the visit of the Canary Islanders this weekend.

"Everybody wants to play well but sometimes the fear of losing the ball stops players calling for it. We must be more courageous,'' he said.

Mendilibar, who has injury doubts over Pedro Lopez and Sisi, remains confident in his system and believes only minor adjustments are required.

"We must change the way we play, not the system but because they still do what I ask,'' he added.

"I believe in what I do and what I do is best for the team.''

Brazilian striker Diego Costa concurs with his coach that minor changes are needed by the players.

"We lack confidence in certain positions,'' he told Marca. "If someone is wrong, you have to help out in the field.

"We have to be solid and to be comfortable first before trying to score goals. Things are not going well and something needs to be done to solve it.

"When we suffer a little we have to keep thinking about going on in the game, because with 1-0 nothing happens.

"We must be ourselves against Tenerife, play like we have to play and each do the best we can.''

Costa is expecting a tough encounter against a side level with them on 10 points but a place lower in the table due to a vastly inferior goal difference.

"They are a team where everyone is helping each other out and that's worth a lot,'' he said.

"We have to do that ourselves and be careful with (Tenerife striker) Nino, a player who is proven.''

Tenerife, meanwhile, will be without Cameroon midfielder Dani Kome who has been ruled out with a muscle injury.

Islanders captain Manolo Martinez warned his side will face a side with clear attacking intentions.

"They bite at you,'' he said. "They're going to press and we must be prepared and role our sleeves up to combat their offensive game.

"Victory would ease the pressure on us. This is a new game and we go with high hopes because victory for them, one of our rivals, would be worth more than just three points.''

"The important thing for us is to get a good result.''