Reading manager Jose Gomes insists that his team are completely ready ahead of their Championship opener on Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday, despite suggesting he wants to bring in more players.
“Sheffield Wednesday will be tough, they are experienced with good players, strong strikers, very fast technical wingers, full backs that like to attack and cross to find Fletcher,” said Gomes.
“I’m glad to start at home with our fans and let my players feel how important they are to the fans.
“The players we have are completely ready to play. I’m very happy with the players in pre-season and they will show on Saturday they are ready for it.
“If you talk about ideal squads, like all the managers I would like more players, but hopefully until the close of the market we will receive it.
The Royals have only managed to bring in four summer signings with less than a week of the transfer window left, and Gomes is keen to strengthen.
“We have no time to complain, to blame, to cry. Of course all the coaches in the world would like to receive the best players to fit their system.
“I’m very happy to be the Reading coach and help the players to be better, increase their level and show the fans they have inside them to perform well, score a lot of goals and win a lot of points.
“We are trying to bring in more players, everyone at the club is working hard to try and help the club to be better and bring better players.
“I’m really confident we have respected everything regarding financial fair play so hopefully we have space in the last week of the market to bring the players we want.
Gomes reiterated his ambitions to lead Reading to the Premier League in the long term, but reiterated that he cannot put the pressure of promotion on his squad this campaign.
“I think if we don’t bring in anyone more, I trust the players we have,” continued Gomes.
“The youth players did very well and showed good things that give me confidence that I can count on them. Even if we don’t get anyone else in we will have a positive season.
“It can happen (promotion) but it’s not realistic, I hope next week we can say different things.
“Right now we cannot put this pressure on the players, next year maybe.”
The Portuguese boss suggested that he has been impressed with many of the academy players used throughout pre-season, one of which being 17-year-old midfielder Michael Olise.
“I was very impressed lasts season when I saw him training with us. If you watch him you realise straight away he’s a young talent who is improving a lot.
“His physicality has improved a lot, he’s growing and changing and week by week is getting better. Hopefully he can give us good moments, the technical things he can show are things everybody enjoys. We can use his skills to help the team be better.
