Right back Carlos Akapo spoke to the media via video conference ahead of Sunday's game against Villarreal. “I'm now starting to find my rhythm and I was happy with how the pre-season campaign worked out for me, although I did have the misfortune, if you could call it that, of being in confinement for a while. I've come back full of confidence and secured playing time in the game against Real Madrid and we saw the Akapo that I can be and have always been”, he explained.
The focus now is on the Villarreal match. “We need to change our mindset and focus on Villarreal. We need to maintain our current dynamic. We need to press our rivals and run, run and keep running. Villarreal are a different side to Madrid and are flying high in the table and are also involved in the Europa League and it's up to us to take the game to them. We're Cádiz and we have to play in the manner that we are used to”.
Healthy competition. "I get on very well with Iza and he's a friend of mine within the squad. We both have our way of playing and it's healthy competition between us both. I've learned from him, just as he has from me. He played really well last season and I hope for more from him this year too. Competition is a good thing as it forces us both to maintain high standards and compete to the maximum all season long”.
There's no lack of battle. “We normally know how we are going to play in each game but not necessarily the line-up as each opponent presents different challenges. We'll have to wait and see what game-plan we adopt for the forthcoming weekend but one thing is for certain, and that is our solid manner of defending won't change and we won't stop running. Our team epitomises the essence of battlers and fighters and that intensity that we showed against Real Madrid won't change”.
Villarreal come into the game after playing in the Europa League. “Villarreal playing in the Europa League is not something that I view in our favour as we faced Granada who had participated in a Europa League game mid-week and they took the lead in that match. That was a game where we struggled and it took us some time to make a breakthrough. It's also true that Villarreal have a deep squad and we won’t get sucked into thinking they’ll only think about us from Friday on, because that can backfire badly. We can’t think like that”.
Thoughts on Villarreal. “They are a side who are well established in the top flight and no matter who they put out, they’ll be quality players. They also boast a deep squad. We respect them but don't fear them. We'll go out to play to win with no concerns”.
Confident with the club's progression. "Confidence and time are key to things in football. This applies to players, coaches, everyone, as behind the scenes there is a great deal of work being done that no-one sees and people cast their opinion without knowing these things. We need to let people see how we are progressing and that our work is paying dividends on the pitch. I believe we’ll be much talked about. I hope that we'll maintain this battling spirit though to the end of the season and secure our main objective which is maintaining our top flight status as soon as possible”.