Pellicer: “We want to achieve our second consecutive victory”
The Málaga CF coach has spoken ahead of the match against CD Tenerife, taking place this Friday 21st February at La Rosaleda. “We’ll need to be at a very high level; we want to bring our collective feeling to La Rosaleda,” he said.
A deceptive position and a tough rival
“Since Cervera arrived, if LaLiga were starting now, Tenerife wouldn’t be in this position. They would be in the top 10. We’re talking about a team that was close to promotion two years ago. They come off two losses, but we need to consider the context. They lost to an Elche team that is one of the strongest in the league, and the other day, they paid the price for intensity against Córdoba CF with two mistakes on throw-ins. It’s a match where we need to be on alert, and we will need a very high level. They have an experienced squad and a good coach. A warning, everyone should be ready. This game is going to be very tight, and it will be decided by small details.”
Good relationship with pressure
“It's a group that, after what happened last year, is already accustomed to it. A group that's not used to losing. Few defeats and many draws. It works in our favour. It's like a boost. I analyse things beyond the result. I think the victory is good for the players' self-esteem. Now, we need to go for the second consecutive win and hold on to La Rosaleda. We are a competitive team, but we lack consistency and regularity when it comes to winning matches. I hope we can win more. And we might also lose more games than in the first half of the season. We’re going to keep going the same way, fine-tuning those details.”
Work, effort and commitment
“We are Málaga. There needs to be balance, and I try to find it. It’s impossible for everyone to be happy with the coach because the coach is the one who has to make the decisions. And then, depending on the result, many times you go from hero to villain. But balance is key. I’m really happy for Roko. In Santander, he played five minutes and didn’t make a bad face. He keeps working and eventually finds his reward. I don’t like players who make faces. Work, effort, and commitment. There’s nothing more to it.”
Return of various players
“We've recovered Nelson and Luismi. We’ve also got Carlos Puga and Álex Pastor back. Tomorrow is the last training session. We need to adjust the loads properly. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll have to leave two players out of the list.”
Collective feeling and common goal
“I haven’t seen any bad faces. The other day, when I saw Unicaja, I was happy about the collective feeling. Ibon Navarro has 14 players, and everyone talks about the teammate and the collective. That’s also reflected in the way we celebrated our goal in Cartagena. I have 27 players, and it’s normal that some won’t play from now until the end of the season. I try to convey the collective feeling, and I have one of the best human groups I’ve had. What matters most is the collective, and Roko’s example is perfect. Dioni and Chupete are happy for him. Healthy competition, but uncomfortable.”
Variations and tests
“It depends on the players' profile, their form, and the opposing team. We could repeat what we did in Cartagena, but we can also look for alternatives. For example, I’m playing several left-wingers on the opposite side so they can get used to new things.”