Pellicer: “We need to keep our heads held high and give our all for the fans”
Málaga CF’s coach addressed the press in the Anduva media room following the defeat against CD Mirandés: “The minimum requirement is effort, and the boys have given it their all,” he stated.
Match analysis
“It was a very even match, although it's true that at certain points in the first half they felt comfortable. Once we settled in, we managed to score and felt more at ease on the field. In the second half, we started well, but then came the penalty and the goal that put them ahead. From there, we showed a good response, and when we were playing better, with the game under control, we made a mistake that cost us.”
“I want to congratulate Mirandés for their victory. The minimum that is required is effort, and the boys gave it their all. Now, we need to keep our heads held high, give our all for the fans, react and bounce back.”
Evaluation of the rival
“Mirandés is a team with a lot of intensity and rhythm, they never lose their focus on the game and are very similar to us in certain aspects. They keep pushing and force mistakes from the rival. They show how complex this league is, where the collective effort outweighs individual performance. They are the greatest example of desire, will, and quality. Although, I believe that this time, the fairest result would have been a draw.”
Player status
“So far, everything had been great, but this is football. We face strong teams who also want to add points and keep growing. Now we need to lift our heads because against Zaragoza, our fans are waiting for us.
“This is a very long journey, and the key is to maintain the team's unity. It is in defeats where the strength and cohesion of the group are proven. I’m convinced that the players will still see us enjoy the game.”
The result
“We are teams that look for the opponent's goal and leave spaces exposed. It's true that we are solid defensively and have very quick recoveries, because there's a strong collective commitment. I believe we are among the teams that run the most and are the most organised.”
The standings
“We must take it one match at a time. The hard work done during the week is reflected on the pitch. Today was an important day to maintain the gap with the fourth-place team and continue moving closer to our goal.
“We need to be ambitious. Although we are sad about the result, we have to get over it. We still have 57 points to play for and a season to enjoy.”