The harmony between the team and the fans must reign again in Cornellà this Sunday for Espanyol to repeat victory, like last week. After leaving empty-handed from their visit to Pamplona on the weekday, the Blue and Whites host Elche, bottom of the League, an ideal rival to continue gaining confidence.
Despite this, the urgency of the team from Elche, which has improved since the arrival of Jorge Almirón, will put Espanyol to the test with little rest having played against Osasuna on Thursday night. The match against Elche is at two in the afternoon.
“We will see how the team recovers physically and mentally. Finding the best version with such little time is not easy. The game excites us but it will be difficult. Even so, we believe in our possibilities. We want to reconnect with the fans as against Valladolid”, said Diego Martínez at a press conference.
The blue and white coach explained that there is no news regarding the stomach virus that gripped the team during the week and that Óscar Gil has discomfort and is doubtful to play against the team in which he was trained.
Diego Martínez points out that he sees “progress as a group” in recent weeks, although the version he believes will be seen is still a long way off. “We will have better or worse games, but we always compete, we adapt to any circumstance. Against Elche, a greater need for cohesion and confidence will be necessary”. For that confidence to increase, results are essential. “I think we deserved more points than we have.” To continue growing, the Galician coach also considers it key to increase defensive reliability. “It’s like health, you only care about it when you don’t have it.”
Espanyol needs the team and the stands “connected” to add another three points. “We need the best of each and every one at that time, when the physique doesn’t arrive, the spirit of the fans arrives, that we all compete together”. For this, the “rebellious spirit of the parakeets” is entrusted, to fight “against pessimism” and “in any circumstance as the team will do on Sunday,” he assured.
About Elche, he stressed that in his last outing he drew against Valencia. “The classification right now is not that important. They have players of a very good level who last year had a very good second. The change of coach maintains the uncertainty of what they can propose… a hungry team is more dangerous. We believe in our team, we can do things well and we’re going to do them to win”.
Martínez recalled the equality that exists in the competition. “All teams have arguments to win games. From the beginning of the season we said that we would have to fight every game and celebrate every point as a success.”
Lastly, he analyzed Javi Puado’s misfortune with the posts. He is in a good moment, he is giving us a lot. When the icing on the goal arrives or the assistance will be the host. Upward evolution of him is the way to go.”
