Pellicer: “We’re motivated that there will be people from Málaga there”
The Málaga CF coach held a press conference this Friday ahead of the match against UD Ibiza on matchday 12. “It’s an important match, one of the most important; we have come from a 10-day unbeaten streak and we want to continue winning,” he said.
Importance of #IbizaMálaga
“It’s an important match against a direct rival, who are ahead of us. We know their aim is to return to professional football as soon as possible. A rival that needs very little to create scoring chances. In the last game they were surprised at home by Intercity, but against Mérida they played a very competitive game. They have a lot of talent in the finishing zone, but we’re approaching it as an important game. We’re a little short with squad numbers, but that’s no excuse. It's like a casting, finding other players who can step up. Thanks to Moussa and Víctor for making an effort to be there this week, although they are not 100 percent. If nothing happens in training tomorrow, they can be there to help us.”
Kevin
“He hasn't trained all week, today we did very little, and he has trained only partially. Tomorrow will be the final test, with the operational strategy and the preview of what we want to do. We'll see if the discomfort subsides, it doesn't seem too serious, and we'll see if he can be there to help us. We need as many players as we can to execute the game plan.”
Match, absences and opportunity
“It’s one of the most important games. We are on matchday 12, they are a direct rival with Castellón, Córdoba and other teams that are pushing at the top. We are a very strong team in midfield and have accumulated many absences due to injury. We have Genaro, Dani and David Larrubia who can play, Jesús will surely be called up, Rafa is injured with the reserve team and Izan is with the national team. This is a casting, there will be situations in which players will have to play, seeing their daily commitment. We are going to compete with the idea of achieving victory. We’ll try to diminish their virtues, find our match idea and have those players in action who make a difference upfront. At a defensive level we have the solidity of Antequera and need to avoid the minutes against Córdoba where we lost our way.”
Motivation
“It’s a high-tension match, the rival knows this in front of their fans. I’m sure we are going to have someone there wearing a Málaga shirt, that really gives us a motivational boost. The players are taking steps forward, but there is still a long way to go. The important thing is to maintain consistency, commitment and mentality. Do not give up in matches where we’re not doing well, because the rebellion of young people makes us unpredictable. I see the boys are doing well, as are the young players from the reserve team. In the end opportunities arrive. Now they have to show the strength and experience of an adult, which they’re doing.”
Former Malaguistas within the rival team
“It’s normal that there’s extra motivation when you face a former team. Alberto is a player who has experienced it, he is a Malaguista who has suffered here. Javi was a professional, he didn't miss a single training session and he worked hard; Cristian appeared and competed at the highest level. Álex Gallar is a player of pure talent, he only needs one action to be able to finish or score the last goal. Three players in three different contexts, it’s normal for them to have extra motivation. Let's hope that we are strong in defence and can get three crucial points due to the match context and the rival we’re up against.”