Dotor: “It’s a very special win; it gives us a lot of encouragement”
The Blue and White midfielder, who returned to the team after injury, analysed the win against UD Las Palmas: “The team has spirit, competes, fights and can beat anyone; that’s our mentality,” he explained.
Vibrant match
“It was a fantastic atmosphere and a great match, we played really well. The first half was very enjoyable, with two teams that wanted to play football and delivered a good level. In the second half we stepped it up, and we felt that on the pitch. The team has spirit, and it’s great to see teammates fighting and giving everything, so there’s nothing anyone can reproach us for. I’m very happy to be back, and now we keep going.”
Physical feelings
“I felt really good. I was lucky in the sense that it was a shoulder injury, which isn’t too important for footballers. I used the time to work on my legs and keep up my fitness. I wasn’t in pain, and I was able to play without any issues.”
Ambition
“We’re seeing that this team can compete with and beat anyone, and that’s the mentality we need to have. It’s nice that the fans can dream and do their calculations, but we have to stay focused on every moment of the game and every training session. That’s what will make us fight for what you’re talking about. It’s better not to think too far ahead, just let things happen as they will.”
Enjoying the momentum with excitement
“It’s a very special win, which gives us a lot of encouragement given how the match unfolded. It can give us confidence, but we have a very tough game next week. We’ll focus on Monday’s training and give our maximum in every action. Thinking beyond that will do us more harm than good. I go into every training session with huge excitement, and that’s what I’m trying to pass on to my teammates, and it’s working well for us.”
Dealing with timeout
“It’s tough when the team is doing well and you’re feeling good too, and then an injury comes and you have to stop. But that’s what we’re exposed to every week in matches and training. At the time it was disappointing, but the next day it was confirmed it wasn’t anything serious. From there, it was about recovering well and making sure the collarbone heals as best as possible. Those who are out have to try to take positives from it, and those of us on the pitch will be stepping up for them.”
New teammate in midfield
“I’ve handled it well because I was playing with Juanpe and I understand him well, they’ve got a lot of quality. Up front there are two strikers and wingers who come inside. I approached it with a lot of confidence, the players coming in are performing at a great level and we’re all contributing. The mindset is that we go after every opponent without thinking about injuries or what happens if we win. We just have to go out there and take on everyone, and that’s it.”
Key contributions from the players coming in
“It’s really special. I left feeling very proud of everything, the club, the team and the fans. You can see a team with spirit and character, no matter who comes in. Rafa and Ramón came on and played a great match. It doesn’t matter who you put in, we’re all good players and we’re all in this together. That’s the best thing about this team, and it’s really special.”