Match analysis
“We knew how difficult this ground is, and I want to give credit to the players because we were up against a team in great form. On top of that, they weren’t conceding goals and were showing a lot of solidity. But today we did some simple maths: they hardly conceded, and we thought that with two strikers we might be closer to scoring. It was important to force their centre-backs to defend wider, which gave us an advantage. The team competed at a spectacular level. We asked them to try to be the same team away from La Rosaleda. I want to highlight the bravery they showed, I take my hat off to them.”
Ochoa and Larrubia
“Aaron played on the left when he was a cadete, and he also did so with us in the reserve team. In the end, plans work out when players perform well. He has tremendous personality and the courage to do it, and today he showed that.”
“How is David? We’re concerned, we don’t know the extent of the injury. It was a strong kick, and hopefully it’s nothing serious.”
No euphoria
“This team still carries a lot from the previous period. We’ve recovered players and tried to provide a framework so they can show what they do best. And things are working out. Difficulty comes to everyone, and hopefully when it arrives, the team will have the same bravery it has now, and be able to keep following a very clear path, regardless of results or euphoria. If you get carried away, you’re closer to falling. There is no greater ambition than trying to win every match, and our behaviour has to reflect that. This will be truly valuable if we can sustain it over time.”
Malaguista fans
“Amazing. It’s very comforting and gives you a lot of energy. You see them travel and put themselves out there, and we can’t let them down. When you play away from home, what’s most rewarding is knowing that their journey back is an enjoyable one, and being able to repay the effort they’re making.”
