Jagoba Arrasate spoke to the media in his pre-match press conference. Find out what the boss had to say below:
On weeks off: It's been two long weeks. When you're in this situation, you want to compete and get back on track. We've focused on the day-to-day. The weekend was a great time to unwind and do other things, and in that regard, we've organized ourselves well and given importance to every session. The team has trained very well and we're ready for tomorrow. This is the time when we have to take a step forward.
On injuries: We have Omar back. Taku and Maras are already doing field work, and I understand they'll be back with the group soon. Antonio is out due to suspension. The rest are available for tomorrow.
On next match: We've reset because we need to improve things. And at the same time, to get out of here, we need to train and address some issues. Tomorrow we play on a difficult pitch against an opponent who's in very good shape. Their recent wins, especially at home, reflect that last one. We need to start off in better shape from the start. We've had away games—San Mamés, Anoeta, even Cornellà—but we haven't started well, and we've paid dearly for that. It's something we have to improve on, and then everything else will follow.
On Jan Virgili: It's true that he hasn't been able to play in the last few games, but for him it's been a tremendous experience, a huge one, a very beneficial one, and I think it's made him a better footballer. In the end, when you do things well—when you score a goal, earn a penalty, provide an assist—you come in with more confidence. Now we have to take advantage of all that so that he doesn't just do it with Spain, but with us.
On Almeida and Sevilla FC: If you've followed Almeida's development, it doesn't surprise you that much, but I think it's very commendable. At Sevilla, which has had a tough time in recent years, you now see a very brave team, a very successful team in duels, with a unique way of defending—surely thanks to coaches Almeida has had—and they're in good form. They're coming off a solid win against FC Barcelona, and we know what we're up against. What we have to do is set the bar very high. If we set the bar high for RCD Mallorca, it's going to be tough for Sevilla. If we lower that bar, what's happening outside the home will end up happening again.
On international players: We have a doubt about Mojica, who arrived yesterday, and these trips are what they are. He had a separate training session today and is available for tomorrow, but we'll see what percentage he's in. Muriqi came delighted because beating Sweden is great news for them; it was a great match. Lukas was the same. And aside from the slight doubt about Mojica, which we'll decide, the rest are fine.
On heat in Seville: We did what we had to do back then and we didn't get a response either. That's what can happen in Seville: in October at two in the afternoon it can be 30 or 32 degrees. Last week we played Levante here on Sunday, and it can be hot in Mallorca too. Even though it's October, there are places where the temperature can be high. But hey, right now we're not in the mood to think about those things. You have to adapt to it and, above all, what you have to do is compete well.
On the dressing room: I see people aware and taking responsibility for the fact that this stretch of the game is very important. Tomorrow's game is important because it's the closest, but then we'll play Levante, then the Copa del Rey... As things stand, we need to get wins. I see the group taking a lot of responsibility, and it's time to step up.
On expectations: I'd like to see the team in the second half at San Mamés, for example. We can't go into the match the way we've gone in recent matches, where the opponent has outplayed us both at Anoeta and San Mamés. That's giving the opponent a big advantage today, without belittling them because they've done things better than us, but we need to go into the match with a different intensity, with a different confrontation, and from there, grow throughout the match. I think the second half of the other day's match has to be the path to becoming a recognizable team, a team with personality, that can play in the opponent's half as well, respecting the opponent, but knowing that those are also our strengths, and we have to bring them to bear on the pitch.
On the start of match: It's about being smart and interpreting things well. At San Mamés, you know they're going to put pressure on you, and with the ball, we weren't able to make two or three passes in a row, and when they had the ball, we weren't able to close down their paths to our goal. We have to do both: have more of the ball and play more in the opponent's half. And at some point, if we see things aren't going well, we can slow things down a bit with other things. Those are the things the game sometimes demands of you, and we have to interpret them. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but it's what's happened in recent matches.
On the importance of the victory: I don't know if it would be the best I've achieved as Mallorca's coach, but tomorrow, for me, is the most important one. Play tomorrow, win. We would take a giant step forward by winning away from home, both because of the opponent and because we would also make a jump in the standings. There have certainly been victories that I've been very satisfied with, but right now, given the current situation, the most important game is tomorrow's.
On Manix Mandiola's words: He's a friend of mine, nothing more. Today's training was behind closed doors, but I let him in, transmitting that energy and positivity. You know Manixa; if everyone interviews him, you'll have plenty of headlines. In that sense, since he's a friend, what's he going to do? Defend me. I appreciate his words and, above all, that he's here these days. Let's see if, since he's here too, we can get a win.
On Dani Rodríguez: Yesterday, Pablo Ortells did another interview. I'm always with Pablo on a daily basis, and in the end, he already knows it's my decision and respects it. Then, with words, sometimes we explain ourselves better or worse. Each of us can handle them on our own, but in this, I have the full support of Pablo, Andy, and everyone else. In the end, it's up to me to manage, to make decisions. Sometimes I'm wrong, sometimes I'm not. But I feel free to make them, and in that sense, there's no problem.
On changes: We're missing a few details, details that are going against us, that we need to change and turn in our favor. But for them to turn in our favor, we need a little more hunger, a little more intensity, defiance, focus... A little more of everything to be able to tip the scales in our favor. Aside from the first game, which went the way it did, in all the others the result has been close, and we can see we're there, but it's not enough. We need those little things to tip the scales in our favor.
