Important victory
“We weren't doing badly; we were getting draws and could have had more points. But we needed this win, at our stadium, in front of our fans, and against a rival fighting for promotion. I have to congratulate everyone because we finished an important week on a high note. The feeling today is good. We saw a great match. Perhaps we lacked that final pass, but we also defended very well. We need to keep going, tomorrow we rest and ensure we’re ready.”
A team that conveys passion
“The fans at every match in La Rosaleda give us incredible energy; they feel connected. What this group of players conveys is very important; they end up exhausted. They never stop fighting, and in the end, we see what that effort brings and the results. We're doing things very well. Today was an important day because it had been a while since we last won. We have 33 points left to play for, and now we need to prepare for the Cup match.”
On the right track
“Footballers are people. I’ve been a footballer, and sometimes the standings weigh on your mind. To perform well, you need energy, and the best version of the players comes from a sense of calm. What matters is how you achieve things, the journey, and we are competing in every match. We are always present. And we are being a bit better than our rivals in terms of consistency. The guys are euphoric now, and I’ll rein that in on Tuesday.”
Keep working
“Winning gives you self-esteem and confidence, but you can't relax at any moment. We are competing against all types of teams, and at the end of the first round we’ll see where we stand.”
Rotations are very important
“Some haven’t participated, but they will get their chance. It’s hard to understand, but it’s also a blessing, and if you manage it well, everyone stays engaged. It keeps them all activated, during this week of three matches, 80-90% of the players have been involved. It's an almost ideal scenario with very few injuries. In the Cup, players who are training very well will get that opportunity. They all need to be ready for the marathon that lies ahead.”
A complete performance
“It was the most complete match against a rival that knows how to handle both outside and inside plays, offloading and entering undetected. This was our best performance in that aspect; we positioned ourselves well, and the defensive line pushed while maintaining control of the midfield. In attack, we lacked that little bit of decision-making, which also comes from anxiety. If we had scored the second goal, we would have been much calmer.”