Sergi Darder’s assessment following the 0-0 draw against CD Eldense.
Thoughts on the match: We know the league will be difficult. Anyone who thinks we’ll be promoted by February is very mistaken. However, I think the team competed really well. We gave away very few chances. Two corners and not much else. But, as I always say, we have to be self-critical. I think the team has more football in it and is capable of creating more chances. We also have more goals in us than we are currently scoring. But it’s a very long journey. We’re on the right track. We need to start winning away from home. Winning only at home won’t be enough for us. But, having said that, I really believe in what we’re doing. I really believe in my teammates. The squad is very deep, so I’m sure this little point will be the beginning of something special away from home as well.
Thoughts on the team: I think the team competes really well. Despite not having particularly defensive-minded full-backs or a highly defensive-minded holding midfielder, I think we concede very little. Our defensive concepts are very well worked on, and I think we’re very comfortable defensively. Of course, we’ll concede goals at some point, but I think success is no longer just about scoring the chances we create. We have more football and more edge in us to be able to create more chances. I think we’re creating clear-cut opportunities. Overall, I think the team plays very well, takes risks, knows what it’s doing and is well organised. And I think that when we get into the final third, we have more football in us to cause more damage. However, it’s a process. Obviously, some of the players have only just arrived and are still getting to know each other. We’re playing in a very different style of football. I’m sure that, little by little, together, we’ll help the forwards score more goals.
The competitiveness of the division: It’s crazy. I think there is very little difference between the seventh- or eighth-placed team in the Primera División and the tenth- or twelfth-placed team in the Segunda División. In the end, we were relegated on goal difference. And this year, no one should expect us to be promoted by February. It’s obvious that it will be a very long season. However, we know our path and we know what our objective is. We shouldn’t hide from it; we have to be ambitious. We know that the only objective is promotion, but there are many different ways to achieve it, and we have to follow our own path. We don’t need to get nervous just because we don’t win a game. This is football, and we’re obviously not going to get 120 points. So we’re staying calm, following our path and believing in what we’re doing, which is the most important thing.
The traveling fans: It's crazy. Honestly, I didn't expect it. When I arrived and saw that corner with so many people, we felt this duty to win. In the second half, when it was our turn to push towards that goal, I was convinced we would score and run over to that corner. It didn't happen that way, but we are always grateful. We know they are with us. They've been with us since the very first league match. This was pretty much the match where they cheered us on the most. We see the support we have and we are very grateful.
