The Mini Submarine coach is confident in the work of the team before hosting Cartagena (Saturday, 9pm CEST)
Villarreal B head coach, Miguel Álvarez, appeared at the press conference prior to the match between the Mini Submarine and FC Cartagena, corresponding to Matchday 4 of the 2023/24 LALIGA Hypermotion season, which will take place this Saturday at 9pm CEST at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Here are his comments on the upcoming match:
The squad
“The team were far superior to Elche in the second half, we couldn’t make any changes, they caught us in the last 20 minutes when we were at our best. It changed our game plan, but they’re fine. They were both heavily overloaded, but they’re both fine.”
Comparison with last year
This time last year we had four points. I told them to be calm. With a team with 15 changes, with young people, with injuries, players coming up to the first team… my feelings are very good. But we don’t live by feelings, we live by reality. It’s a very coachable team, that wants to improve a lot and that we’re on a good path. In the end, we’re always penalised for something, but we have to keep in mind that the team does what it does. The road is very long and we have to polish those little details that penalise us in order to win points. If we can win at home, we have a good average for the future.”
Cartagena
“It’s a team that is still under construction, because they have changed head coach and players. The team we’re going to find is totally different and that’s difficult at first. In the last few weeks they have been reinforced with very strong players like Alarcón, for example. The second division is a very strong league, with good players and the matches are exciting every week.”
Centre-backks
“There are 18-year-old veterans and 40-year-old youngsters. We are delighted to have young people, who give me energy, but we have to be aware that there is a process involved. Football is not just about scoring goals from the top corner, for example. It’s not about age, it’s about having powerful people-“
Morro
“He is a player who is coming to really add value, because he is a very good goalkeeper. He’s got a great build. He’s going to provide important competition for the rest of the goalkeepers. He’s coming to work. In terms of training, he’s doing very well. Now there is a lot of competition in goal. Rubén is a great discovery. We need three keepers, because we have two goalkeepers who are internationals, plus a possible requirement from the first team. Now we are confident that we have three goalkeepers. He has a very good level and a great stature.”
The keys to the match
“Our team is growing, we are better in many things, and at home we have to have a lot of personality. We have to be strong at home, we have to come out strong. We have to play with the same personality, aggressiveness and courage as we did against Eldense.”
