Alberto Escassi: “We understand the anger of the fans”

Analysis of the situation. Malaga has only won one game in the last eleven. “The reality is what it is. We have gotten ourselves into a delicate situation. But let no one doubt us, that we are the first to want to win, that we train day after day like animals so that later in the games they follow us well, but they don’t work out for us”.

Do you see green shoots? “Of course. We are in a very negative dynamic, none of us would have wanted to be here, but since the union of the group we will surely pull this off, but we must not let it go because we are already in a complicated situation in which Malaga does not deserve to be”.

Why don’t things work out?? “The reality is that what we work on is not reflected in the field. We have had many meetings, we have spoken many times among ourselves in the locker room. And, pardon the word, she’s a bitch. I wish you could see us train every day and the unity that exists, but then it’s time for the game and things don’t turn out the way we’d like. We are being very weak in both areas, both defending and attacking. And that is weighing us down. We have gotten ourselves into this delicate situation, but here are the men to get this situation out”.

The critical reception of the fans after the defeat in San Sebastián. “I think that when everyone signs for Málaga they know the pressure there is, the club we come to. I don’t know if it was necessary, but they have every right and we understand the anger that the fans have, nobody wants to see Málaga in the position it is in and with such a negative dynamic. We captains went out to talk to them, and it was clarified. It is good that they give us a slap on the ears so that we wake up. Then they told us not to doubt that the next game they would be cheering to death with the team. The union is what will make us get ahead. Totally understandable anger, I understand that and there was also a lot of respect and a very healthy dialogue. We want to play the next match for them”

The message to the fans. “Believe and union. That they believe in us. We are the first to understand anger, I am from Malaga and the ones who piss me off the most are my family and friends. I want to apologize to them because it is a huge hobby that does not deserve to experience this situation, but the message is that they do not stop believing in us. That there is unity, in bad times is where you see the real groups. With those two things we get this forward: the problem in which we have gotten ourselves.”

Change of coach. Is there improvement?: I think we have improvement. Miranda’s parrido, which was already Natxo, I don’t count it because he didn’t have time to work to adapt his way of seeing football. In Zaragoza something else was seen at a tactical level. Here against Almería we lost, but against the best team in the category, Málaga gave a very good image. The other day, in San Sebastián, the team took a step back, we were not doing well. His first shot at 36 ‘is his first goal. We have to have more concentration and responsibility but I think we have improved. The team has been more organized tactically and more compact”.

Key week? “I think yes, that is key. The reality is that we are already looking at the bottom teams and their results, but we depend on ourselves. We must not let more games go by, Malaga is Malaga. Rivals have tough games, but we can’t depend on them. I don’t like to say it’s a final, because there are 14 games left, but it’s a very, very important game in order to have peace of mind in the final stretch of the league”.

The objective? “For my part, I have always said: it is permanence. I wish the 50 points could have been done in March and look up, but first you have to go through there. Málaga deserves to be up there for the badge, the stadium, the action and the city. But we are in a transition situation. Last year we were very close to disappearing, and although we are better, we still do not have that stability. Being optimistic, the objective is permanence”.

Is there fear in the squad of fighting until the last moment for salvation? “The reality is what it is and the team is nervous because in the end this league is very complicated and you get down there in such a bad dynamic and it is difficult to get out of there. But with the daily work we will surely go out. We don’t think about being in a worse situation, I don’t even want to say the word because it hurts a lot. It does not occur to any of us, that thought is impossible. And it happens to win as it is this Monday, beyond playing better or worse. We want that to have peace of mind from here to the end of the season.”

Is this situation similar to the one you experienced with Numancia in Soria? I have been told. It is a very different situation. Rather than looking for us to have 32 points, in the first round we had been playing some very good games, we had generated an illusion especially at home and now we are in a bad moment, the worst of the season, but with the experience I had from Soria, I don’t think it’s the same.”

Is it a mental problem? “That is what worries me the most. In football, as in life, the most important thing is the head. If we get into a mental loop, we can do a lot of damage to ourselves. But I would like people to see the day to day, how the group is doing, but we are going to get out of this situation because I see the team and I am sure we will move forward. We’ve been saying it for a long time, but we can’t let any more games go by and this week against Cartagena it has to be to the death and they have to keep the three points at La Rosaleda no matter what”.

How is Escassi personally? “I dedicate myself day to day, training and taking care of myself and trying to give my best performance. Things can go better or worse for me, but I try to leave everything on the field, because of attitude it is not and it will not be lacking. I’m in the same situation, in the same position and regardless of whether things turn out better or worse, I always try to leave everything on the field and empty myself”.

Inexperience of some players? “I think no. When you have more experience not in this, but in life, you know how to handle pressure better. But the young players have character and personality and they have shown it throughout the season. Both youngsters and veterans have our heads at 100%. We are all the same in that sense.”

Veterans must pull the cart. “From experience we have that role of pulling the car and helping the youngest. Being on top of them and that’s what we’re doing. But if something bothers me is that the group is the host. We train day by day like animals but then you don’t see it in the games. We have to pull from the youngest”.

The Cartagena: “It will be a very difficult game. More than in Cartagena we have to focus on ourselves because we have a very bad dynamic. We have to win because of the urgency of points, to get out of the hot zone of the classification. If we go out well, with concentration and intensity and with responsibility, things will surely turn out well for us. I understand the people who listen to this week after week and have stopped believing or distrust, but for me it is very important that there is unity because it is what is going to make us get out of that situation, we can’t think of anything else other than be victory.”

Escassi is fixed in the midfield and is receiving too many cards. “As for the warnings, I’ve been seeing a card for a few games, especially very early, which also affects the rest of the game. It is also the function that I have on the field, to act as the top of that destructive, recovery game. Each one has his role and the qualities of other players, of organizing midfield, are not what I have. I feel more comfortable in that facet and it is normal that I make more fouls and get more yellow cards. I’m comfortable with whoever they put me in, because I believe a lot in my team and there are very high level players”.

Do you feel a bit like the leader? “With a lot of responsibility, I do feel. The word leader… there are many ways to demonstrate being one. Being older, having had more experience, having spent 12 years in the Second Division and also being from here, that level of responsibility increases. I carry that backpack that for me is a pleasure and a privilege. I give thanks every day for being part of the Malaguista family. I love having that, being able to lead Málaga and having that role”.