Pellicer: “We’ve returned with the same eagerness and excitement”

A tough opponent to kick off the second half of the season

“We are two very similar teams with players who have similar profiles, with bold wingers who try to break through with dribbles and brave playmaking ideas. They seem to be more comfortable away from home because they are one of the best teams in offensive transitions. A new year means renewing the demand for victories. We’re excited to see the stadium full in front of our fans. We’ve already seen the enthusiasm during the open-door training session, we must continue to convey our identity; a very challenging second half of the season awaits us. There are 30 points we deserve, and we must keep working. We’re facing a match that will push us to the limit. We need to switch our mindset after losing possession. Lucas, Yeremay, and Mella are very dynamic, we have plenty of options depending on how they press us. We’ve worked hard, and playing in front of our fans motivates us. The Malaguismo spirit is more than ready.”

Humility and ambition

“We must stay focused and clear about our goals, we’ve won two matches in six days. We need to approach this with humility and ambition, winning in this league is tough. We are one of the teams that loses the least, but our goal now is to secure the third consecutive victory. I see the players in good spirits, they’ve returned with the same eagerness and excitement. There’s a strong connection with the fans. We forget the past and focus on the exciting present, but with a very important challenge ahead, because there’s still a long way to go. We must be clear about our objective, and from there, maintain the ambition we’re showing.”

Team and fans; unity and commitment

“The fans show us their support every day with the 'sold out' sign. The demands of this club are maximum, and performance is constantly evolving. We must focus on improving and taking steps forward. I see the players in great shape, though there is some uncertainty after the break. My perspective comes from what I see day to day. We need to maintain that level of expectation, stay strong in defence, and improve in attack. There’s a very clear path: collective feeling. This is something a team wins. It’s in our DNA to fight, win, suffer, but always as a family. We need to regain the order that has brought us 30 points.”

Strong return to work

“They’ve come back strong, it’s a very responsible group. I see them with a lot of excitement, as was evident in the open-door training session. In a high-level practice, we were able to give minutes to everyone. Injuries and suspensions will come in the second half of the season. Except for Alfonso and Manu Molina, all positions have had a heavy load for the players. When the necessary end-of-year break comes, we need to regain the order and identity we have, in order to find solutions and keep improving.”

Hard work reaps rewards

“The players need their time. The other day in Gijón, last year, it was a huge joy to see Roko score the goal and the way he executed it. Then Dioni comes on with the centre-backs under more strain and scores two goals. Both of them are starters. Sometimes they can play together, and now we’ve found Lobo in that role. It makes me really happy for them because they need those inputs.”