Cádiz CF head coach Álvaro Cervera was in the press room at the Ciudad Deportiva, where he spoke by video link to discuss the team’s current form ahead of the match against RC Celta de Vigo on Monday. “It’s a very long week, bizarrely long. We’re playing on Monday after playing on a Saturday. We’ve rested, trained well, and weather has been on our side because it’s not been too hot or too cold. The pitch is in good nick, because it hasn’t rained much. The team has trained well, they’ve all been there, with the exception of José Mari, Luismi and Bobby,” he explained.
Analysing Celta Vigo: “Their outlook has changed. The players are the same, but the outlook and the results have changed for the better. They’re coming off the back of two wins, attacking with two strikers. Iago Aspas and Mina. Then there’s Nolito, Denis… they’re a really attacking side. They’re a good side, they move the ball about well. It’ll be a tough game. We’ll have our chances and we need to take them. I think they’re a good side. From the videos we’ve watched you can see the players are the same, but something has changed. The coach is new, so let’s see how long that old chestnut of a change of coach lasts.”
Celta attack and defend well: “We’d love to have the ball and for the opposition not to, but we don’t have what you need to be able to do that. They’ve got players, tactics and have set the team up for that. Getting the ball off them as a philosophy, because that way we’ll have fewer problems or go on to win, that would be nice. Getting the ball off them just to get the ball off them isn’t something we’ll do. They’ll make things difficult for us. It’s true they are a team which attacks and defends well.”
A tough rival: “Celta have been in Primera for many years, they’ve got players such as Aspas, Nolito, Denis, Tapia, etc. Quality players. We’ve beaten Barcelona, yes, but don’t let anyone think we’re now established in the top flight and we’re going to go to grounds around the country doing what we want to. No, not at all. We’ll see what we can do in the game.”
Keys to the match: “You can see how many balls we nicked in Segunda and how many we nick in Primera and there’s a big difference because the opposition is better. We must avoid mistakes and move the ball out intelligently when we get the ball back.”
Delighted about the win over Barça: “I’m happy because Cádiz the club and Cádiz the town have been on everyone’s lips. The team’s hard work hasn’t been appreciated though, as if we limited ourselves to only doing one thing. We do a lot of things well, but they aren’t flashy things. We do a lot of things better than people in certain places are saying. We’re happy.”
Approach to this game: “The dynamic in the group is fantastic. It’s not a group of players who get angry if they don’t play. We’ve got two games in a row, this one and the Copa del Rey. It’s Friday today, we play on Monday and right now I’ve got something of an idea, but I’m not totally clear on how the game will go. If we don’t get the ball off them before they get it to their front men things will be tough. You need to take into account the players we’re talking about. Looking at their line-up they are more attacking than other teams.”
Alberto Perea: “I have no doubts about Perea. The only doubt I have is the type of game I’m envisaging, and he knows that. I like to see Perea up near the opposition box, when I can see it’s going to be that kind of game, I’ll play him. Right now, Perea, for the good of football, has to play. Football has unwritten rules and although sometimes we break them because of the type of game we’re facing, I can’t break them right now.”
Praise for Álex Fernández: “I think Álex is a better footballer this year. I can play him in more useful positions and I’ll do it. He plays football so well. He’s fast, he gets the ball back, he scores. Right now I don’t have any doubts about where to play him, because I know he’ll get the job done. Before it was different because he had an idea fixed in his head, and now, between all of us, we’ve made him realise he can do more and he does it so well. The trequartista is different in Primera. No matter where he is, even if he doesn’t think he’s standing out, he’s doing exactly what we’re asking of him.
