Sergi Darder, Jagoba Arrasate, Pablo Maffeo and Dominik Greif analysed our 2-0 win against Real Sociedad. Find out what the players and the boss had to say:
Sergi Darder:
On the game: I think there were a lot of people who thought we were dead, who thought that with 40 points we would stop. It's true that we had two tough defeats, but I think the team has shown that we are very much alive, that we can win, lose or draw, but this team is alive and will fight until the last moment to stay as high as possible."
On a complete game: "There's no need to talk about offence today, I think the merit is entirely defensive. We've seen that if we keep a clean sheet, if we compete, that if we're a team of bastards as we say, it's very difficult to beat us; maybe the game can end 0-0, but we've got the point. So I think everyone deserves credit today, starting with the goalkeeper and ending with Cyle, and I think the changes too, because Abdón, from the moment he came on, has given us a lot of life. I think today we did a spectacular job defensively, offensively we did what we could, and doing what we could was enough to win, so we're very happy."
On a first win with a clean sheet: "As we always say, just because we've lost two games doesn't mean the world has come to an end, we'll keep fighting, trying. The team have seen today that they are very much alive, we have 43 [points], we have a game at home, at Son Moix, where we can't lose, we can't forgive any more. We need the fans until the last minute, we need everyone, because if we win at home in the next game, we'll be right back in the top positions. As I say, I think it's a message of encouragement to everyone, congratulations to everyone, because I think today's game is a mirror in which we can look at ourselves until the end."
On a personal level: "I think, as I have always said, that the numbers look more like what you do. I think that this season I've felt very comfortable, grateful for the confidence that the coach has given me since the first day. It's true that now it seems that ‘Sergi is better because he scores more goals or assists more goals’ and that's not the case. I think that in general I have to grow, in front of the level of the season I think I've been less than more. I'm happy, because obviously the goal is useful to get three points, but above all for the defensive work: today we were very involved and in that sense we have to congratulate everyone."
Jagoba Arrasate:
On the match: "I think we played a very serious game, it looked like we were interested, it's true that the goal helped us to believe even more in that game plan. I think we made a very, very big effort, we defended very well, we were effective, too. It's a great win, and what's more, with a clean sheet, which I think we needed."
On 43 points: "This changes every week: last week it was a big disappointment, today it's a great joy, so you have to try to put things in perspective, neither dramatise when things are going badly, nor get too excited when things are going well. Match by match. Even so, it's still a morale booster, winning here is very complicated and in the way we've done it. Now we have to prepare well for the week and try to beat Leganés at home, in front of our own fans."
On goalscorers: "Sergi, you saw today, beyond the goal and the assist, when the team needed him, he came on. He had great energy, personality and in the second half, thanks to him, we were able to defend with the ball as well. And Cyle, as you saw, opened the scoring. He is a player who, I think, has optimum conditions for this type of game, when you are more withdrawn and I'm happy for him too."
On first away win: ‘We had a very difficult away schedule in the second half, but I think we are playing good games and today we got our reward.’
Pablo Maffeo:
On the match: "We knew it was going to be a complicated match, what to expect, but in the end we kept another clean sheet, which we hadn't done for a long time. That, together with the game we played, paid off."
On 43 points: "In the end we're there, we're still there. It was a pity about last week's game, but we're going to continue with the illusion that we're all in there and hopefully we can achieve it."
Dominik Greif:
On the game: "It was very important, the way we were able to play together, fighting, very well organised. Defending for a long time without the ball is not easy on this pitch, that's why it's very important."
On the clean sheet: "I was finally able to help the team and just because a shot hit the net, it wasn't a goal. It was very good. It was important for me, but also for the whole team, it was already a long time without a clean sheet, they always scored against us, even without a shot on goal. So, we are very happy with the defensive work. I'm very happy with the defensive work of the whole team."