A very recognisable Elche CF
“It's a marked match, we know Elche's idea with Eder Sarabia. Álex Pastor and Lobete know him from Andorra. He wants to dominate, control possession, slow the game down, and show clear superiority over the opponent. This will challenge us to resist and take the ball away from them. It’s going to be tough, but in front of our fans and in our current form, we have to be bold and brave. This is a match heavily influenced by the opponent's style of play. Our ability to resist will define the game, which means being prepared and continuing what we did in Granada. The fans need to be ready; it’s going to be an exciting match. We must know how to attack and defend at different levels.”
A demanding calendar
“The lads are recovering like jets. We have to make a lot of adjustments because a month with many matches is coming up. When they return from injury, there’s a process, and we need to minimise the risk. We have to keep making adjustments and manage what's ahead.”
Maintaining the positives
“I like that they’re active, I’m very happy with all the players. In the last few games, I’ve seen things I liked more than last year. When the team is doing well, making certain tweaks is to improve. You want to maintain continuity, but everyone needs to be ready because the line-up from the other day won’t be repeated very often.”
Soul and a special bond with the crowd
“What matters is the immediate, the current. The team stands tall in matches; what concerns us is being prepared. It's an unbeatable home game to take an important step. I’m very focused on a match that will push us to our limits. The key is unity and the atmosphere at La Rosaleda. We must keep giving because the people are with us, and we need to maintain that dynamic.”
Facing the match with personality
“I ask for boldness, courage, and intelligence. We are facing a match that will be different from the previous six; we need to be ourselves. We will try to counteract the opponent's style of play. We have our mistakes, but we are bold, courageous, and we don’t lose our focus in the match. The small details are in our favour; we need to be effective in the area, press at different levels, and hold the ball against the team that is number one in possession, which is overwhelming. We must manage different aspects of the game, and the crowd gives us that energy that can be lacking when we’re playing away.”
The balance between possession and verticality
“The key to possession is to have the ball so that spaces open up and we can attack the gaps; they are very patient in their attacks. We are vertical; both teams have similar playing ideas but with their own nuances. We need to know how to defend, and with the ball, we must be protagonists, moving it side to side, being vertical, knowing when to pause, and managing the rhythm of the game. So far, we’ve been doing this, but we need more consistency.”
Everyone’s ready
“The motivation is higher than last year; the players are more relaxed, and we know each other better, which makes things flow much more smoothly. There are things I like, but what will enable us to fight for our goals is the squad; sometimes you earn a starting position in matches and other times in training. The most important thing is that everyone will be prepared; this month we have seven matches coming up. I don’t think anyone can play 90 minutes in all seven matches this month. We will see everyone; it's an important month. Competition is both good and uncomfortable; it empowers us, and the players need to embrace that. It pushes us, and I want the players to feel that discomfort while maintaining the confidence we want to convey.”
Fans are behind the team
“Last year was an act of brutal resilience. In Linares, the fans travelled for the first game. This is a time of demand; people come to La Rosaleda and enjoy themselves. It’s an act of responsibility, we know this, and we need to manage it well. Difficult moments are ahead, and we are fostering a sense of belonging, making the idols of the children be local lads from the neighbourhood. The newcomers are getting involved in the club's and fans' identity, and we need to maintain that momentum and give it continuity.”
La Rosaleda, key throughout the season
“Our key is at La Rosaleda, it involves being strong here. This match will test our resilience and that of the fans who lift us up. We have a very important month ahead, and by the end, we will have crossed the halfway point of the first round. We will start positioning ourselves. A lot has happened in these six matches; this is a grind. We are focused on the match against Elche.”
A family
“I am in a constant state of alert; I give them affection and confidence. The synergy between the fans and the players moves me, but we need to know how to manage the difficult moments when they come. Confidence and bravery are essential. Teams matter, as does the collective feeling and unity. In that aspect, we are a bit ahead of some teams.”