Cádiz CF coach Gaizka Garitano spoke to the media ahead of the match against Málaga CF, corresponding to matchday 30 of LALIGA Hypermotion at La Rosaleda.
Team situation:
"I see the team doing well; we've clearly been on an upward trajectory. When I arrived, the team was in the relegation zone around matchday 18, risking going down to the 1ª RFEF. Just because we lose one match doesn’t mean the playoffs are out of reach. No team wins every game—not Almería, not Elche—so we need to stay realistic."
About the game against Albacete:
"In Segunda División, any team can beat you. If you don't perform well, especially in the second half, you risk losing. In the end, Albacete scored one goal, and that led to two more. That's how it goes in football; you concede one goal, and the game changes completely."
Current form:
"We must continue the positive rhythm we had before. We had a bad game the other day, and we're very self-critical. Now it's essential to react quickly, regain our strength, and win to move closer to the top positions. Of course, we must stay humble, focusing match by match, knowing each victory brings us closer to the top rather than the bottom."
Game against Albacete:
"In the previous match against Albacete, we didn't do well and conceded goals in precisely the way we had discussed beforehand. This happens often in football—you anticipate what your opponent will do, but they still manage to hurt you. We need to pay more attention to these details next game. Regarding the players, they always do their best."
Upcoming match against Málaga:
"We head to Málaga motivated and determined to erase our previous poor performance. We know Málaga is a strong opponent. We want to show the Cádiz we've seen in recent months."
About Ontiveros:
"Ontiveros has stood out notably. He’s shown remarkable quality. When playing away, players may face criticism, but we fully support Ontiveros. He’s vital for us. In football, there are players who shine and others who work hard behind the scenes. Both are necessary."