The goalkeeper has analysed the Yellows’ current situation ahead of the match against RCD Espanyol
Villarreal CF goalkeeper Diego Conde has appeared in front of the media this morning to analyse the current situation of the Yellows ahead of the upcoming match against RCD Espanyol (Monday, 9pm CET).
The team’s defensive improvement
“I think we’ve been putting a lot of emphasis all season on defensive work and improving our defensive record. Both the quality of the work we are doing and the intensity and involvement of the team means that we are conceding a lot less and that is showing. The team is conceding less, we look very solid and it’s very difficult to create chances. All of this has a lot of merit for the work we are doing.”
Fewer goals conceded
“The team is doing a magnificent defensive job. You can see the involvement and the collective and individual effort, in group and individual actions, where everyone is doing their best. You can see the commitment of the team in every withdrawal, in every movement of the opponents and in every counter attack. I am convinced that we will continue like this.”
The last stretch of the matches
‘The team puts in a huge physical effort throughout the game and I understand that it’s normal and part of the game that in the last few minutes it can’t be the same effort, because there’s fatigue. In those minutes those chances can come, but I think we are also capable of doing a lot of damage to our opponents in the final minutes.”
Competing every match
“The possibility of whether fifth place will get us into the Champions League or not is not something that either particularly or collectively occupies our minds. What we do is try to go out and win every game, put some distance between us and those behind us and put pressure on those at the top. And that’s the line we have to follow. We’re competing in the best way and from there on it’s the situations that don’t depend on us that will mark the path, but we aspire to be as high up as possible.”
Fighting for fourth place
“The only thing we can focus our efforts on is what depends on us, which is to win every game, put pressure on them, close the gap and, from there, it will be the competition that will determine where each team is. We are doing our part. We’re working in the best way, we’re competing in every game and, from there, we’re going to add to that and try to reach fourth place.”
Spending a long part of the season in the European spots
“I think the team has competed in the best possible way throughout the year. Obviously you can’t be 100% in every game, and there are better and worse games, and I’m the first person it happens to. It’s true that during the first part of the season we suffered a lot of absentees, and that affects the team, because then your resources are more limited when it comes to facing a game. But in the dressing room we have a lot of talent and players who are capable of adding and contributing a lot.”
Having Marcelino’s trust
“The coach is giving me all his trust. I’m trying to repay him with hard work and my best performance on the pitch, as well as training to the max every day. I’m trying to give him reasons to continue trusting me and, above all, to be able to continue helping the team.”
Continuing to work hard and focusing on the next opponent
“I don’t think we can take our foot off the gas at any time. LALIGA is one of the most competitive leagues in the world and if you don’t give your best in every game, both individually and as a team, you don’t win. There is a high level, there are fewer and fewer games left and the teams are playing for a lot, so we can’t afford not to give our best in every game. So if we give our best this Monday against RCD Espanyol, we will win.”
The ambition of getting clean sheets
“I, particularly, as a person and as an athlete, don’t believe so much in the final result, but rather in the process. And I know that the process is going the right way, because we are doing an incredible job defensively, we are giving it the importance it deserves and we are going with the same collective idea, which makes me feel proud. I’m also convinced that the clean sheet against Rayo Vallecano, which is my second clean sheet and the team’s third, is very few compared to what it will be at the end of the season.”
Personal summary of the season
“I think the summary of the season so far and my words have to be of thanks to the club. Firstly, for giving me the opportunity to take a big step in my career, in a club as big as Villarreal CF and which aspires to so much. And not only that it aspires, but that it always has the capacity to be at the top of the table and to fight for European places. And on a personal level, I am more than grateful for having had the opportunity to play. When you arrive in a new place, the first thing you think about is adapting and gradually finding your place. From then on, due to different circumstances, I have had the opportunity to play, to try to show from the green and I feel proud of what the team is doing and what I am doing, but without any kind of conformism. I think we still have a lot to do and I still have a lot to do and a lot to improve in order to continue helping. And with that ambition and that humility, always looking to improve my best version.”
