Playoff qualification
“Today is not the end of anything, but the beginning of something. Today’s match was tough for us, the heat, the dry pitch, and the wind made the game slow. We were able to get through it. I want to congratulate Burgos and Eibar, they fought almost until the very last minute. If we hadn’t won, we would be out. The key moment was deciding whether to go for the second goal or defend the 0-1, with all the risk that entailed. We chose to go for another goal, and it came, it was an important step. I want to congratulate the players and thank the fans. 1,500 people came, and it felt like we were playing at home. Thanks to them, we had that extra boost that has brought us here.”
The journey
“It’s a very beautiful feeling based on what the players have created week after week. It has been very enjoyable, the fans have been fully committed. People would stop you on the street to congratulate you, people who had turned their TVs off have turned them back on and started believing again. Hope is our path and passion our destination. Through hope and victories, we have all been able to see the potential of Malaguismo. Enjoying it all together is something special. I want to thank those below and also those up above. We must now focus on the next match, which will be the most important of the year.”
Playoff rival
“All the players who came on did an outstanding job. Every match has its difficulties, and UD Las Palmas have talent that must be controlled. We’re also going to play two very close games in a short period of time. Now we need to build momentum and have a good week. We must be able to compete well in these two matches. The two league wins against Las Palmas would be enough for us, but just because we did it before doesn’t mean we’ll do it again. We start from zero, build confidence, and understand the difficulty ahead. They are a very talented team, and we will have to be at our very best. The tie will be extremely tight, and we must take advantage of every detail.”
Unified kick-off times
“We tried to isolate the players from everything. From the bench, we had to stay alert to make decisions during the match. We were aware of how the rest of the results were unfolding. The substitutions were a delicate moment. The result was enough for us, but they could have equalised and knocked us out. We had to go for the second goal, any situation left us exposed. The team understood the message perfectly, we had more chances to score and in the end it went well. I wish Zaragoza the best of luck, this situation will give them a chance to regroup and build momentum, and they must take advantage of it. Hopefully they come back soon and stronger. We’re happy that all this effort has been rewarded in the result. When players perform well, it makes many people happy, not just those who travelled here. When these moments arrive, you have to seize them, and we are enjoying them.”
The project
“We are now reaping the rewards of the bitter experience in Primera RFEF, that is how the project was relaunched. Trusting our young players gave us potential that was always going to grow in an upward direction, and that has been passed on to all our supporters. There was a lost generation for Málaga. I want to remember Bravo, who took it from Adra to Athens. There were people who disconnected from Málaga and watched other teams because we were in the Third Division or Segunda B. If Málaga had managed to maintain its place in professional football, the situation would be different. The Champions League and the time spent in Primera RFEF mean that kids no longer doubt they are Málaga fans, and we must give them the opportunity to see Málaga in the First Division.”
