THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you, Team Spain.
I'll ask a question to the captain. How have the preparations gone thus far and how is the team spirit?
CAPTAIN DAVID FERRER: Very good. I'm really happy because we work hard this week. We will have another day tomorrow. Yeah, that's good.
Of course, we are sad because, as you know, Carlos will not play this week with us. I trust to my team because I ensure that we will compete and we will have our chance to do a great week.
THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions.
Q. Captain, actually is the first time since the new format that Spain is not playing at home. It's also new environment for you. How do you think it would be to play in a neutral court? We know when there are two countries which are not home countries, the atmosphere sometimes is not that good.
CAPTAIN DAVID FERRER: I don't know because as a captain we play at home. Anyway, we're going to play against Czech. In the end it's neutral.
No, my opinion, doesn't mean a lot. Maybe if we have the chance to play against Italy, in that case of course is much better you are playing at home.
Q. Tomorrow is one year since the last official match from Rafael Nadal. How do you feel it has changed the tennis since then and how has the team changed since then?
PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Of course, for Spain Rafa was very, very important. But it's true that in this year Spain won Grand Slams and we have Carlos also.
We are very, very lucky that in Spain for the last, I don't know, a long time, every year we are competing for every tournaments, also for Davis Cup.
It's true that we miss Rafa, but I think that the life continue. We are ready for it.
Q. David, I guess you might have suspected there would have been a possible problem with Carlos after the Final in Turin. When did you actually hear from him? What was your immediate reaction?
CAPTAIN DAVID FERRER: Well, I knew after the match against Jannik Sinner in Turin. Yeah, yesterday night Juan Carlos cames to the hotel and they went to do an MRI. Yeah, yesterday night I spoke with them, with the doctor, our doctor, as well. We decide that it's too risk to play this week. He had important injury to play this week.
Q. David, obviously you didn't know back then that Carlos wouldn't be able to play. Do you have any regrets of not calling Alejandro for this Final 8?
CAPTAIN DAVID FERRER: Next question. I don't want to answer that question now. I explain two weeks ago. That's it.
Q. Pablo, last year Berrettini told us when he was injured he used the thought about Davis Cup to come back. When you was injured, if this somehow was an input for you, and if you have a thought about coming back to play for Spain?
PABLO CARRENO BUSTA: Yeah, of course, during my career playing Davis Cup was very important for me. I learn a lot. I get a lot of experience playing this competition.
Is true that during my injured, I was one hour and a half [sic] more or less out of the courts. When I come back, David gave me the opportunity to be in the team again. For me was very special. It give me the confidence probably for stay playing this year.
It's true that for me it's very, very special again to be in the Finals competing with Spain and all of the team. We'll see what happens. But for me is very special.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports