It is to be a special game for Málaga’s Nacho Monreal as he began his career in Osasuna, the next opponent for Málaga in La Rosaleda. The Spanish international will face the team that until last summer, was the team he’d been with all his life.
Monreal’s statements to MCF-TV
(Special match) “A very special match for me to see my old team mates again. Just a few months ago it was unthinkable, but now it’ll be a good game, and I hope everything goes well. I have fond memories, I was with Osasuna for many years, and the memories are good. I’ve left a lot of people there, I can’t pinpoint them, Osasuna is one big family”.
(Ex malaguistas) “I had a great relationship with Lolo, aside from a professional one, we’d get together on many occasions, he was on his own a lot and I’d be with him; we also had good times with Calleja, they’re both great people.
(Great start for Spain) “They’ve started very well, they’ve taken on an important block and the results show this. They’re in a comfortable position in the table, and are as high as possible”.
(Personal) “Joining a new team means you need to adapt. Eliseu played at a very high level; now the coach trusts me, and my level of play, I’m pleased about that”.
(Room for improvement) “We lost three games, but the team is now reacting to this in a positive way, and the results are more favourable. It’s good that the team hasn’t reached the top, as this means we can still go further”.
(Eurocopa with Spain) “I need to take it slowly, bit by bit, to reach the selection I need to give my team 100%, so I take it match by match. I’d love to go, but I need to be patient and not obsess about it”.