Pepe Mel: “The players never give up”

Pepe Mel appeared before the media this Friday after the team's training session at La Rosaleda. “We’re certain that the team does many things well, yet we need to round it off. In Ibiza we played more than 60 good minutes, but it wasn’t enough. We have a team we’re about to play that has just lost, and who are fighting for promotion. They’ll come here to win so we have to go out to win too, we have to make the most of our skills,” he started out by saying.

In a second analysis of the past league match, the coach was clear: “We clearly dominated play in the first half, but we need to close it out. We had several plays, but we didn't manage it. In the second half, 15 minutes in, the team lost the rhythm of the game and the handle of the ball. The rival had to take action, but it was more of our fault. If you rely on logic, Granada should have won and Alavés too. In the Second Division, any team can defeat any team. All teams have their moments, and you have to respond to that. I hope we can do it against Alavés,” he commented.

Good news from the infirmary. Mel can now rely on another two players: “The ones with the most options to join us are Ramón and Juande, as Gallar needs a little more time. It’s certainly positive news, when all the players are back, we’ll be better,” the coach added.

Sunday's match is against a very important rival, this is how the coach analyses it: “Alavés will propose different things to us compared to the last game. They’ll be a more direct team, they defend well, it’s difficult to score a goal against them. They have a project prepared for direct promotion. Everything that happens is down to us. When I arrived, I had my sights set on the number of goals we conceded. We have to try and keep a clean sheet, as it’ll make it easier for us. It’s about conceding fewer goals and being more accurate when it comes to scoring,” Mel said.

Team morale remains high. The dressing room believes in their options despite the results not going the right way: “The players listen to me, I’m taking them on a certain path and that is reinforced with the victories. They never give up, they can see they’re at the level of Granada, and with Ibiza as well. This is about results, about getting out of the danger zone, and we haven't done it yet. That does concern me,” he stated.

The team has had good matches against rivals from the top of the table: “We compete against Eibar, Levante and Granada and we don't feel outperformed. That is the way forward against Alavés. The team competes well, I’d love us to win as if not, it’s going to be tough to keep up the talk inside the dressing room,” Pepe Mel highlighted.