The ex-City boss was quickly back in work after his Bramall Lane exit
Ruben Selles says he’ll use the experience he took from his short spell at Hull City as he looks to prevent Real Zaragoza from slipping into the Spanish football wilderness.
Selles, who guided City to Championship survival on the final day of last season after inheriting a team at the bottom of the league at Christmas, takes over Zaragoza following a disastrous start to the new season in the Spanish second division.
Zaragoza are rooted to the foot of the table with six points, three behind Mirandes and Real Sociedad, and suffered defeat in his first game in charge on Sunday at Sporting Gijon by a goal to nil, their fourth in a row. They’ve won just once in their opening 11 games.
The Valencia-born coach faces a tricky Copa del Rey match away at Mutilvera on Wednesday night before his first home game at La Romareda against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday night.
“In the last three years, especially at clubs like Southampton, Reading, and Hull City, we’ve experienced situations similar to the one we’re currently experiencing at Real Zaragoza,” the ex-City boss said.
“And always with the ambition, in those slightly tougher moments, to be able to show that character. That know-how, staying calm, and, above all, trying to take it game by game. Day by day, improving our feelings. It’s an environment where, for various reasons, we’ve felt comfortable.”
“My priority is to talk to the players, convey to them what we want to do and how we’re going to do it, get those initial impressions and see that response. That’s what I mean by super short-termism. We’re here at Real Zaragoza, and we’re going to do the best we can today to be as prepared as possible for tomorrow. I think that’s the key, and of course, we’re going to have a match plan. We’re going to work on it during the week, but for today, the first thing is to arrive and start transmitting.”
Unlike in previous jobs, including at the MKM Stadium, Selles will not be joined in Spain by James Oliver-Pearce and Tobias Loveland, who worked with him at City.
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