New Real Sociedad coach David Moyes has challenged his players to show they are better than recent results suggest ahead of his first game in charge on Saturday at Deportivo La Coruna.
Eight months after being sacked by Manchester United, Moyes has made his return to football with the underperforming Basque club, who currently sit 15th in La Liga after picking up just two wins from their first 11 games.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, the Scot challenged his players to show their current position in the table is a false one, while suggesting he would be watching closely to see how each individual shaped up.
"The important people are the players, not the coach. They are the ones who have to perform," Moyes said. "So we want to see what they can do. I think the players here have not shown their full potential yet. I think there is more to come, and I hope that I can help them get better.
"But the players now have to stand up and do better than they have done so far, and climb the table. But time will tell. Two years ago [they were] fourth, last year seventh. We need to find out why the current position is not so good. I believe we will, maybe not just now, but we will get back to that."
Carlos Vela may not start at Riazor, having missed most of Moyes' first week of training due to international commitments with Mexico, while captain Xabi Prieto is set to miss out due to illness. Midfielder David Zurutuza is, however, fit again to take his place if selected.
Moyes, though, suggested he is not planning too many alterations to the XI that beat champions Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the last match before the international break.
"There cannot be too many changes too quick," he said. "We had a great result against Atletico Madrid, so we have to try and build on it. Also because it is my first time to see the team, I have to give those players a chance to show what they can do. But I will be expecting a good performance and I will be putting enough pressure on the players to say to them, 'look, come on, we need to get winning.'"
His first week's training with his new players had been enjoyable, Moyes said, and had involved showing the squad that he wanted them to play a more direct style of football.
"I have really enjoyed the players, they have been very open," he said. "I get the feeling they are wanting the information and we have had a good week working together. I cannot put everything into one week. I am raising the intensity, the speed, the tempo.
"I would like the ball to be moved quicker through midfield. But I cannot do all this in three or four days. It has to be given time, and the players need to be given the chance to get ready to play this way."
The new Txuri-urdin boss said both the players and fans around the city of San Sebastian had been very welcoming, while the language issues were being dealt with as best as possible.
"The players' attitude has been fantastic," he said. "[My most used phrase has been] 'well done' and also 'more' and 'come on.' I am not saying them in Spanish yet, but I met my Spanish teacher yesterday. But the incredible thing is the club have already started English lessons here for the players, and hopefully my Spanish will improve too.
"This week has been really good. The players, the public in the city -- everybody has been coming up and saying good luck. I think there is a lot of people, in the UK as well, who see this is a really good move for me. But in football management winning gives you the most happiness. The job is to win games and climb the table."