Pellicer: “We want to win, and we're going to give it our all so that people keep that energy”

Eibar, a rival that demands intensity

“Tomorrow, we’re facing a typical team of this category that was recently in La Liga, and we know the potential they have. We have to stay true to our style; we need this win in front of our fans to boost the players' confidence in the good work they’re doing. We expect an intense Eibar that will put pressure on us, with different formations, aiming to connect with Bautista. We need to step it up a bit, aiming to reach finishing areas with good link-up play. We must stay alert for second balls, and we’re fine-tuning those small details.”

Prominence and effectiveness in play

“Away from home, we’ve drawn all our matches. We need to create situations where we have the upper hand in areas where we can outperform them. It’s important to distinguish between playing into space and to feet; we shouldn’t hold onto the ball too long or move it side-to-side excessively. Defensively, we have to be very alert to second balls, prevent Matheus from having time to think, and watch Bautista’s off-the-ball runs. At home, we take the initiative and assume risks. We want to be more decisive, generating more crosses and making quick mental shifts like we did against Huesca. The goal is to strengthen our advantages and minimise our weaknesses.”

Juanpe’s injury

“Juanpe has a fracture, and they’re waiting to see if he’ll need surgery. It’s really unfortunate, he started the season playing in Ferrol. I hope he has a speedy recovery.”

Width and boldness on the attack

“The shift is dictated by the level of the competition and our fans. We need to remember where we come from; the players know each other better, and we've adapted. We’re focusing on different aspects compared to last year, when we had to be defensively solid because coming back from a goal was tough. This season, we've managed to turn around challenging situations, thanks to the team's courage and enthusiasm. The type of players we have up front need to be bold and make use of the width. We have to emphasise depth against teams that push their line up, which has been challenging for us. That’s the path forward, we need to be brave to win in front of our fans, who truly deserve it.”

Team’s fighting spirit

“Last year, we went through so many tough situations, losing six games, and only on the first matchday were we out of playoff positions. Never stop fighting, that’s the mindset we’re carrying into this year. The team has established itself well in the league; we’re coming off a run of many draws and five games without a win. The biggest boost for the team would be to get that victory, and we need to keep pushing in that direction. We set this mentality in place last year, and it’s been there from day one this season. It’s in times of adversity that you find the most motivation, and that’s what we need to communicate.”

Objective of the category

“We have to be clear that this is a year to dream big, but we need to focus on our primary objective, which is firmly set. We have eight teams behind us and 13 in front, and we want to see more teams behind us. We’re performing better than many teams, but if you don’t win, anything can happen. People need to understand that this is a year of growth, a year to keep progressing. The fans deserve the very best, but we also need to recognise the situation we’re in. Humility is a sign of strength. We’ve retained 80% of last year’s team; we want to win, and we’re going to give it our all so that the fans keep that energy alive, it can't be allowed to fade.”