Cádiz CF coach Álvaro Cervera spoke to the media ahead of next Monday's match against RCD Espanyol. "We had two weeks to work, but sometimes we had to work hard because of the national teams and also a lot of wind from the east. We worked hard, we now have two very important games for us and then two very intense weeks of daytime work, arriving late and coming back late. These weeks are going to be key because we know what we have in our minds".
The view on Espanyol. "It's as if it were Wednesday because the game is on Monday. I don't know which players are going to play for our team, we have to see how Arzamendia and Tomás arrive. Espanyol played against us in pre-season, they beat us with a huge differenece and played better than us, but we have to learn from that. We have a way of playing that, if we change it, we are vulnerable. They play at home, they play well, they have good players with experience in LaLiga Santander. It's going to be complicated, but we know that if we're ourselves we can get something out of them on any pitch by doing things right".
José Mari is back. "José Mari does things with the group, but he doesn't do everything. He's coming in little by little. He's incorporated into the training sessions, which is a tremendous joy, but he's not yet ready to play. Not yet".
Aspects to improve. "We'd like to defend a bit more forward because it's easier to get to the opposing goal, but we're finding it difficult. If you defend at the back it's a question of survival, it's like waiting for them to score. We're not agile with the ball, we lose it quickly and we need to improve those two things, handling the ball and defending further forward. We have to come back a lot because the opponents force us to do so".
Espanyol's dangers. "The fact that they feel comfortable on the ball is dangerous. The coach likes to play with a 4-3-3 formation. He signs players who have the ball in uncomfortable situations. If they are comfortable on the ball up top, they create a lot of danger. If not, they suffer like everyone else, but I see that if they are comfortable they can beat anyone, like they did against Real Madrid".
Álvaro Bastida. "I've always said it, but he's a very young lad. He's in the right way and very well surrounded. I think he's going to be a very good footballer. I hope he is lucky to have people who make him grow. Every day he's getting better, every day he convinces me more and more. I don't think we should give him so much responsibility. If he's looked after, he's going to be important".
