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Perales family: “We’re missing the hustle and bustle outside the house”

Like everyone else in the country, the Perales Family are in quarantine at home, with the exception that their home is La Rosaleda Stadium.

Andrés Perales has lived a lifetime at La Rosaleda. Yes, his house is in the stadium. Since his arrival at the now extinct CD Málaga in 1966, he has been official chauffeur, gardener, janitor, pitch delegate, security guard and even a masseur. A whole life dedicated to Malaguismo. Andrés’ home is located on Paseo de Martiricos s/n, the home he has made with his wife Antonia and seven children: Paco, Koki, Conchi, Kike, Lola, Mónica and Andy. A wide generation of homegrown Blue and Whites in the strictest sense of the word. Today Andrés is 83 years old and lives with his youngest son, Andrés Jr, or Andy as he’s known.

Both are sharing confinement at the place where, over a month ago, more than 22,000 Malaguistas cheered on their team in LaLiga SmartBank. Today, following 28 days in quarantine, the view at the Blue and White temple looks very different.

-             Such a large and empty stadium must be impressive…

Yes, it’s impressive, but we’re already used to it during the holidays when there’s hardly anybody around.

-             How are you getting on with the lockdown at home?

We’re getting on pretty well, we imagine that having so much space is certainly a positive point. We’re fortunate within the confinement, being in such a privileged place. My sisters and I took part in the disinfection of the stadium, it’s cleaning our house on a large scale!

-             Andrés Senior has seen many things in his life, but nothing like this?

Our father is elderly and told us he has never seen anything like this crisis, so profound and on a worldwide scale. He says he remembers when they seized the old CD Málaga, they allowed him to live inside the facilities with my mother Antonia, and his two youngest children. It was a tough season, we had no income due to the uncertainty of the club. He worked nights as a taxi driver using a vehicle a friend lent him in order to bring some money into the house. With the taxi he could buy gas oil for the pitch lawnmowers. Dad was in charge of mowing the pitch and maintaining it until a new directive joined. Thank God everything changed.

-             Are you hoping normality will soon be restored and football returns?

Of course, all we want to do is work, see the team in training again and secure our place in the Second Division as soon as possible. If we achieve First Division promotion, then all the better.

-             What do you miss the most about your usual routine that you can’t do at the moment?

We’ve been in confinement for 28 days and the truth is we’re missing the hustle and bustle outside the house. Keep in mind that the facilities are in use Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day, not just on matchdays and for training sessions. There are the maintenance staff, offices, store warehouse, children from The MCF Academy, people who are usually here every day for rehabilitation, pitch maintenance etc…

-             Lastly, what message do you have for the ‘Malaguista Family’?

We are Malaguistas and very positive, we always come back. Much encouragement to everyone, we can do this. Above all, we hope all those affected make a full, speedy recovery.