Speaking to the media via video link after the Cádiz CF squad’s third training session of the week, head coach Álvaro Cervera looked ahead to Monday’s LaLiga Santander clash with Athletic Club. “We’re in good shape, but I don’t agree that we’re up against a more manageable opponent,” Cervera said. “Since they changed coach, they’ve been on an upward curve. They’re getting results. We’ll be looking to get back to winning ways and hopefully that’ll happen on Monday.”
Athletic: “I watched them play [against Levante in the Copa del Rey] on Thursday and they put out two different teams during the game, both very competitive. They’re getting plenty of joy from dead-ball situations and they’re a very tough, compact side. They’re hard to beat. They’ve got players who provide good service and they’ve got good finishers. Whatever team they put out, it’ll be one focused on beating us; I don’t think they’re going to be thinking about the Copa or anything else.”
Defence: “Our big problem right now is the number of goals we’re conceding. We have people out and we have to field players out of position; in some cases we’re missing cover. But we need to plug the leak at the back right away; we can’t afford not to. We can’t change the way we play because if we do that we’ll be out of contention by the 50th minute. We need to keep on working hard and looking to plug that leak.”
Balance: “Our first priority has to be protecting our own goalmouth, and from that starting point we can add things in attack to find that balance. Right now we have to tip the scales towards defence and then we’ll start to add in players, situations and so on to balance it up. We’re going to focus on our goalmouth, which is more important right now than the opposition’s.”
