Breath of air
“There’s very little to say, two weeks ago we had a final here that we lost, and today was another final. We were aware it was a key match for us, and at this time and under these circumstances, there was no room for failure. We had to try and give our all, focus on everything we’ve been working on, knowing the difficulty and the fact we’re at the bottom of the table. Aware that all matches are going to be like this, with a great deal of suffering, very even, knowing we’ll struggle…it’s all entering our heads. I hope today’s win acts as a breath of fresh air, and the dynamic changes”.
Fans’ encouragement
“The fans are incredible. If in previous years they were crucial to us, this season they gain even more prominence after everything that’s happened. They are absolutely essential. The welcome we received today, I said to my teammates the day of the match against Athletic that I’ve lived some wonderful moments here, where we finished eighth, fourth, got to the Champions - yet you don’t see a reception like this very often. I think this allows players who haven’t experienced a welcome like this before, to really see what we’re playing for, see the feeling for Málaga there is in this city. I believe it’s very important that the whole team is aware of this. Above all we secured a win, and I’m thrilled for us and the fans”.
Penalty
“It’s a lot of responsibility. I knew it was time; either I scored the goal, or we let the match escape. It’s true that the team had been tired for around 15 minutes, and it was a struggle getting to the rival area, so this would be the last chance we’d have. It was almost our final opportunity, and so much was going through my head. However, I tried to stay calm, and luckily the ball went in. The subject of penalties is very often a lottery, but today it served as a victory for the team”.
