Eldense - Málaga
“Focused on the match. We need to show empathy toward our opponent. Since their coach (Oltra) took over, every game has been a final for them, and this brings a high level of competitive stress. Despite recent defeats widening the gap, they've spent 20 matchdays in the relegation zone, and yet the team is still alive. This will be a very tough game. Two years ago, I experienced a similar situation. We need to match their intensity because only a win matters. We shouldn’t be thinking about draws or what other teams are doing. Football teaches us life lessons. Just a few weeks ago, it felt like the world was ending. We have to stay alert and carry the momentum from the last three matches. We have to win. At the end of the season, unexpected things happen, and that must keep us on our toes.”
Competitiveness
“Three weeks ago, we went to Eibar, and if we didn’t win, it was chaos. The key is to maintain competitive tension. The challenge now is to get another win, our third in a row. We need to stay ambitious, it’s a double challenge, to win and to be competitive. And for the players and the team to keep growing.”
Ambition
“The goal is to win the next match because it always sets the tone. At the start of the season, every team has a goal, more than 50% aim for promotion, the rest to stay up. Our mindset has always been to stay ambitious and collect as many points as possible. We have to keep growing and stay focused on getting a win in what will be a very tough match, given the opponent's situation.”
Calm
“This has been one of the calmest weeks. We’ve trained in the afternoons, and I’ve seen a lot of calm. If you look back a month, there was real suffering. In tough moments, it’s important that everyone knows how to respond. Sunday is another final for us. We’re calm, and the priority is the team as a whole.”
Game plan
“We’re not going to change. The match context might shift depending on other results, and certain nuances may vary, but our game plan remains the same. We approach it with empathy, knowing the opponent will bring very high intensity. Still, our approach to the match will not change.”
Malagueño
“Congratulations to the reserve team and their coaching staff. I've experienced it myself, coming up from the bottom. Whenever we’ve needed to call up players, we’ve done so. But earning a spot in the squad is something you have to work for, nothing is given away here.”