Leandro Cabrera, one of the strongweights of the Espanyol dressing room, he has tried to curb the euphoria that Espanyolismo is experiencing after the recent good run that has clung to the leadership. He is aware and takes chest of the good moment that brings the parakeet team closer to the First Division, Although he advises that it is not yet time to celebrate, he asks for calm. And put the focus on Monday's game against Almería, the third classified, qualifying it as very important.
“Is the promotion chewed? The desire of the fans is understood, but it is not in our hands yet and it would be unwise to take it for granted. On Monday we have, thanks to the results of the last weeks, the most important game of the season as we face a great rival. It has not yet been achieved, we want to achieve it, it is everyone's dream. But if we have waited until now, we must wait a little longer to unleash the euphoria. We should be calmer”, Declared the‘ Lele ’.
For the center-back, Monday's duel is underlined in red. They play a lot. “Winning on Monday is taking a step forward. It is one thing not to get into the euphoria and another not to say the obvious. It will not define anything but it can give us another push towards the goal, from the respect and knowing that he is a dangerous rival. You have to give the best version on a spiritual level: when we are with that motivation it is difficult to get involved “, he assured.
Looking back, when the team hit a pothole for three consecutive draws, Cabrera acknowledges that there was a turning point in Anduva's party, but he pointed out that the team did not lower the intensity in that bad streak: “In those three draws I honestly do not remember a lack of intensity, although at times we do lower our attention and pay for it. There were no miracle talks or videos. The key was to keep doing the work, not lose your way, and trust. Perhaps Nico's goal was key because he made us believe ”.
Precisely referred to Nico Melamed. “If it continues like this, it can get anywhere. The roof can only be put on by him. We are all lucky that he is a very focused teammate despite his age and every time he enters the field things happen ”.
Nor has he spared praise for Vicente Moreno: “It came new and had to look at the buttons that can be played in this group. I think that has handled it quite well. When the issue of the three draws passed, anyone would have looked for other players from other clubs, a way of prodding to motivate excessively but he chose to continue working. We believed in him. In a world where patience is lost, he was very patient. He believed in him and in us ”.
Cabrera was one of those who rang to leave last summer, but he stayed to try to return to the team in First. And it looks like a parakeet for many more years. “I am very happy here, for the affection of everything that surrounds the club. I feel important, loved, and where else would you want to be than where you are happy. Then the football turns around, but my intention is to play with Espanyol in First and I hope it is next season ”, he has sentenced.
Finally, he recalled that “all those who came last summer or stayed are for a single objective. It is closer because of the position we are in and because of how little there is left. We have been lucky to always be at the top, but it is never as decisive as it is now. We face the last 8 games in an ideal way. It is a reality that the end is near, but it is not the time to celebrate ahead of time ”, he reiterated.