Defender Fali Giménez spoke to Cádiz CF TV to review the first few matchdays of the league season, as well as talking about his personal situation.
Start of the season:
We are laying the basis because a lot of new people have arrived. The team is much more competitive. We are looking forward to doing things well. We started well against Levante, drawing in 97' in a match that felt like a victory. Against Betis we were also very good. And against Osasuna it was a big disappointment. I told my teammates, it's been a long time since I've felt so bad. We all had a very bad time. But in the end it goes on, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And we have to learn from this. We have to be twice as focused, twice as intense and push forward. It's very nice to play at home with our people and to be able to achieve our goals.
Fight for every ball:
The new players are taught what Cádiz is all about. They adapt quickly because that's the way it is. Whoever comes here knows that they have to run, fight, fight against a wall. And the truth is that it's a pleasure for us that the new people do it so quickly.
Vato and Chust
Competing with each other makes you much better. The healthy competition we have between us makes you stay alert, train hard and compete to the maximum because we all want to play. Vato is a strong defender. He would stick his head in a fan. We already know that he has brought us that toughness that the Titan has. I laugh a lot with him because he can't speak Spanish, so imagine when we play together, me speaking English with him. He has taught me a few words to correct us both. With Vato I understand each other very well. As for Chust, he has a spectacular future. I have already told him that we are going to make him a footballer. We are all helping him. We are going to do everything we can to help him. These players also have to help us, despite their youth. He wants to learn, to be a footballer, he has a spectacular future. Let's hope he shows it this year.
Support for the new players
It was hard for me too. I came from Barcelona. The coach took me and told me: "This is not Barca, this is Cádiz". I came from a different kind of football, I was a midfielder. I was a midfielder and at Barcelona they put me at the back because of my ball control, just imagine... And now it seems that the harder I hit the ball, the better. I've learned to say that the other football, which many call anti-football, is just as effective and even more so if you have it well set up like we do. The team wants to win. In the end the important thing is the two areas. To be strong in both areas. The team has that in its gene. The coach is very important for us in that style. When new players come in, I'm always very open with them. It's true that we all teach them, Jose Mari, Negredo... They know they have to go through that. Negredo himself has gone through. If you see him running and fighting with everyone, aren't you going to do it? It's the mirror where you look at yourself. We all have to go through it because it gives results.
Second season in the top flight
Just as excited as the first. Playing in the best league in the world is a dream come true. I never imagined playing in the First Division. When you're a kid and you watch the games with your parents, you dream of playing on those pitches. In the end I have the privilege of playing in a top flight team, of playing for Cádiz. I am very happy and proud to be in this club and to represent this crest, which many would like. I'm privileged to have this crest on my chest and they'll have to kill me to take it off. I'm very proud, delighted with Cádiz, with how much the fans, the club, my teammates love me... I couldn't ask for more. It's a dream come true.
Cadiz fans return to the stadium
It was amazing. We all got excited. Seeing the team screaming and even more in that first game, scoring in the 97th minute. It's our number 12 that gives you that encouragement.
