Pellicer: “We must improve in combinative play and verticality”
The Malaguista coach held a remote press conference following #MálagaAlbacete. “It’s costing us a lot to score and we need to claim all three points” he told the media.
Analysis of the 0-0 draw
“We were aware the rival would play a different match to previous ones. It was a struggle for us, particularly because both teams were in the promotion fight last season and now this is a totally different situation. The matches don’t generate nervousness in themselves, it’s about the tension of what’s at stake and the fear of failing. Fear shouldn’t come into it, it’s clear that 11 against 11 we would have liked another game. They got off to a better start, then we were able to compose ourselves. However, as soon as we improved, we had a player sent off. It wasn’t the game we expected in terms of result or gameplay. I think we need to improve, but even with 10 men we went all out for the match. Although improvement is needed, it cannot be said that the team didn’t go all out until the end. We must improve in combinative play and verticality. I’m not happy with the result, but I’m happy with the players’ hard work”.
Every match is a final
“We need to win all three points. Today we drew against a direct rival, which means, especially in the last quarter of an hour, that they didn’t claim all three points. This makes us have to go for victory. A final? I think we’re constantly playing finals. It’s a very very important match. It’s not definitive, it’s only definitive when we know the situation of every team, but it’s certainly a final and we’ll prepare it as before; with the determination to go for victory. It’s clear that, in this type of match, the elaborate and highly combinative play is complicated by the tension. It’s not the same playing when you’re at the top, compared to this situation in which various teams are involved in the fight. It’s costing us a lot to score and we need to claim all three points. Every team in this situation needs to. Each match will be like a final, but not just for us, for everyone. We have to face it with that reality and think that tomorrow we must recover players and adjust as much as possible to achieve victory in what will be a high voltage match. We have to be very balanced, but with a great deal of fight and courage”.
Confidence in the players
“I must congratulate them all. We can do all the evaluations at the end of the season. Now it’s time to come together, many teams are all in the same boat so we have to look forward. Players who haven’t participated will likely have to play a final on Wednesday, so will need to be ready. I’m confident that the players who are a little invisible will perhaps score that goal that will allow us to achieve the objective”.
