Tough Cup rival

“I’m very proud of the work of all the lads. We were up against a rival who, although in a lower division, I think would compete at a high level in a higher category. At this stadium we saw what a Cup tie is like: a full stadium, fans cheering for their team, people who have come from Málaga... It was a great match.”

Team works hard

“The condition of the pitch wasn’t great, but I think we knew how to compete. I commend the lads who lasted the whole game, and also the young players who went out there. Some days will be better than others, where we’ll be labelled for certain things, but this team has self-love, feeling and works hard. Now it’s time to enjoy this win, rest and recover, which is the most important thing.”

Hard, intense rival

“The opponent pushed us and generated opportunities, but we also had chances and it was a very close game. It’s all about the romanticism of the Copa del Rey and the values of playing all or nothing. It was very difficult, because of the condition of the pitch... The rival showed why they’ve gone so many games without losing, because of their intensity. It was extremely tough.”

Winning helps winning

“Victories boost self-esteem. We’re focused on winning on Sunday, we have to be optimistic and visualise things. We know we have to recover players and that this match hasn’t been good for us due to the schedule, but we have to play and compete. There’s no room for excuses.”