Manolo Reina
“The results are what they are. Out of a possible 15 points, we’ve got three, this isn’t a great time. No-one thought we’d start the season like this. The important thing is that the team is determined and we’re all united. We’re here to work hard and turn the situation around, the sooner the better for everyone,” he said.
The Blue and White goalkeeper added that “the players who have just arrived are carrying the burden from last year and a level of nervousness that isn’t normal at this point in the season. We’re perhaps anxious to achieve our goals as quickly as possible, which isn’t working. We need to stay calm.”
Manolo made it clear that “in the dressing room we trust this coaching team. We are the first ones to see how they give their all. It’s unfair what’s happening. We’re sticking together. It’s time to work even harder and focus on every little detail. The players are fully behind the coach, we’re all in this together, we know what works for this club and the only thing on our minds is to win in Tenerife.”
Juanfran
“We didn’t expect to be in this situation. We were full of enthusiasm, yet the results haven’t been good, but we’re united and working with maximum intensity. You have to get results to achieve good dynamics,” asserted the Malaguista number ‘2’.
The player understands the tension in the air. “Málaga fans have been having a hard time for several years. We're talking about a First Division club, you can't say anything to the fans,” he stated. “This is a tough streak. They need results and what we want is to work every day to achieve that. The messages don’t do anything, we understand that nobody is happy having lost four matches out of five. The criticism is there, we are the most critical of ourselves. We’re doing all we can to get out of this situation and we have to give the level that we know we’re able to give,” he stressed.
When asked about the coaching staff, he stated: “We are players, not coaches. A footballer has to be ready for anything. He is looking for the way to play that gets the most out of this team. If there’s one thing this coaching team has, it is knowing how to get the best out of us, hopefully the results and goals we have as a club will come to fruition. We are clear that what we are doing is going to lead us to success.”
Finally, Juanfran insisted that “it isn’t easy to lose when you work and work at something, and the little details result in defeat. The coach is the one who knows, and we believe in him. Everyone needs to know that we’re sticking together and we’re going to Tenerife to win. Let's change the dynamic and the next game will be a joy for us all.”
Fran Sol
“At the start of a season there are always many changes. We understand what the coach is asking of us, but things aren’t working out. The strikers because we don't make the most of our opportunities, and the defenders as they’re not defending in the required way,” he commented.
For Fran, adapting is crucial: “We have to adapt to everything, the city, the club, the coach... and vice versa. This is a process and is costing us more than it should. Looking at it positively, I think we've made a change and raised the bar, and the need we've had to improve brings us closer to success.”
Lastly, the number ‘9’ talked about the anxiety in front of goal. “Strikers always want to score goals. We’re not worried as such, we’re concentrating on giving more importance to the completion of actions. It’s an aspect that concerns the forwards and we have to work on that. When a striker doesn't score a goal, they’re not happy,” he concluded.
