Aleix Febas has previewed our Segunda División curtain raiser against Rayo Vallecano during a remote press conference held at the Visit Mallorca Estadi.
Sunday afternoon’s clash will also be new manager Luis García Plaza’s competitive debut as first-team manager, and following a pre-season of three victories and just one defeat, our midfielder says the team is feeling confident going into the upcoming season.
"We have experienced an unusual pre-season, with fewer matches than normal,” he told journalists via video call. “The boss wanted us to take on his concepts and I think we have clear ideas now. The season opener isn’t straight forward because we are playing a great team, but we’re prepared to face what is ahead of us.
"We have a great team to compete within the Segunda División. Considering the players we have, I do think we can fight for promotion. There are always seven or eight teams fighting to go up, which are probably the favourites. We’re a fairly mature team, we have things clear and we know the competition. We know that coming down from La Liga you’re not going to win every game, but we're going to be one of the teams to beat.”
Having made 32 appearances in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Febas is hoping to improve on the two goals he scored last year under the offensive instructions of his new boss.
"Luis Garcia wants to play in the opposition half and press higher,” he continued. “He’s a manager who also adapts to the opponent. He wants us to move between the lines a little further and the team is assimilating to that well and we're going to get even better at it.
“With Luis' style of play I feel like I have more freedom because of the position I'm playing in. There's competition in my area and you have to earn your spot - that's where I'm at right now.”
