Funes: “We want to leave our mark as visitors within one of the most beautiful atmospheres in the Second Division”

Back after the Christmas break

“It’s an unusual week. It’s a real luxury to start it with the connection with the fans. There has been one extra session compared to normal, some training sessions have been rearranged, and we don’t have the regularity of other weeks.”

Alternatives for the left side

“We’ve tested several options, like the three-man setup with wing-backs. We’ve tried having Rafita or Jokin, plus some other possible scenarios that could occur. We also have alternatives during the match. Hopefully, if we make a change, it’s because we want to, not due to problems during the game.”

The challenge of the match in Gijón

“It will probably be one of the toughest games remaining. Sporting have won three consecutive matches and was the best team in December. They’ve taken a step forward defensively, keeping three clean sheets. In Gijón, they are hardly being tested, behind that come the clean sheets. They will manage very well there, and we need to stay calm because we are very effective in the final third. It’s going to be a very exciting match: one team that scores easily and another that isn’t being challenged much. They’re showing solidity, and we will experience what many teams face at La Rosaleda. After our own, it could be one of the most beautiful atmospheres in the Second Division.”

Continuing to improve as visitors

“These are steps forward we need to take, especially as an away team. We must keep in mind how difficult it is to get results on the road and the character we need to show. We don’t have a team built to sit back, defend, and keep a clean sheet. We’d like to be a team that can do that while remaining proactive, managing our mistakes. We need to fully control that to finish with clean sheets. And we have to maintain the character we show at home, being able to leave our mark as visitors. The example is Albacete: a bold, proactive team. It’s harder away, but we have experienced players who can pass that imprint to the younger ones, so they approach the match with personality. For the development of the young players, it’s very important; it’s a really exciting challenge to go to Gijón.”

Day to day with ambition

“More than the return from the break, it’s the difficulty of the matches. We will face opponents who are performing very well, like Ceuta and Córdoba. I wouldn’t want to look at the whole month of January, it has many days. We’re going to focus on what’s in front of us now, Saturday, Sunday, and then Monday. It’s one of the longest months of the year, so it must be approached with caution. Our match is against Sporting, and our objective doesn’t change: maximum ambition every day. It’s important to focus on what’s happening now. There’s nothing more ambitious than beating Sporting, earning the maximum points, and staying focused.”

A very difficult rival

“They’re going to have a fast-paced start to the match, with high intensity, and they’re going to press us a lot. We have to handle those minutes well, it’s not easy. We see it here when opponents come; it’s easy to overwhelm teams with the support of the crowd. From set pieces, they’ve established a pattern, and those actions will be very important. When they’ve been most dangerous, it’s without controlling the game, like against Leganés. Their transitions and vertical passes with fast players allow them to exploit depth with few touches. They like to play with high full-backs and keep possession, but the moments when they’re most threatening are right after recovering the ball. When we start feeling more comfortable in attack, those will be the most difficult moments.”