Pepe Mel: “Tomorrow’s match is crucial”

Blue and White coach Pepe Mel appeared in the 'Juan Cortés' Press Room in the run-up to #MálagaBurgosCF, corresponding to matchday 24 of LaLiga SmartBank. The match is taking place tomorrow, Saturday at La Rosaleda kicking off at 16:15.

He started out by talking about the importance of this point in the season: “Since the start of January there have been finals, matches where we play for more than three points, and this is no different. It would be foolish to think this is just another game. We need to move forward.” He went on to show his optimism in turning the situation around in the short term: “We think we can do it in January and the next game is the most important as it’s the first one we’re going to play.”

The upcoming match will pit the Blue and Whites against Burgos CF on Saturday. “It’s difficult to score a goal against them, we need to have a lot of patience and more success than we’ve had up to now. Julián is doing well, and the players know the script very well. The table speaks for itself, they stand out for the team they are, the merit of the coaching staff and the entire squad,” he said of the rival.

Pepe Mel, who made his debut in the Malaguista dugout on 24^th September against Villarreal B, expected a different sporting scenario: “It's going to be four months, I didn't think it would take so long to get out of this situation. When I took over the helm of the team, I thought that by now Málaga would be looking up the standings with optimism.” Yet the Blue and White manager is very clear that “giving up has not been an option and tomorrow's match is crucial.”

Lastly, the Malaguista coach claims that the victory against Deportivo Alavés a month ago is “the reflection I want for Saturday's match,” as “we won 1-0, the team was serious, we stood up to the rival and we were in the match.”