David Cubillo, Esteban Granero and Javier Añón: “It is a unique opportunity”

David Cubillo, Esteban Granero and Javier Añón They attended the media on the eve of one of the most important clashes in the history of Marbella that wants to take the witness of that Atlético Marbella that already played a promotion in 1974-75, against Nàstic de Tarragona and rose in 1992 being in Second four seasons.

David Cubillo, the coach

Countdown. “The truth is that I am prepared, excited and aware. We know that we have a huge opportunity ahead of us and luckily we didn't have any last minute unforeseen events or anything. All players are available. We have had a very good preparation and we arrived in perfect condition.

The rival is more than analyzed. “We have seen the rival, but above all we have stressed that what is important is us. We know that any team that would have touched us is a great rival that has made a great season and that is why it is in the playoff. We have had an impact on getting the best out of ourselves, on changing things and giving the team another air and nuance because there has been time for them. ”

At 90 minutes no errors are allowed. “In theory, we should have some kind of advantage for being seconds, but due to the third and fourth seconds format, we have the same options, which means that there are no favorites and that all teams have the same possibilities. Not making mistakes is important, but if you want to advance to the Second Division you must be right. ”

Looking forward to the match. “Evidently. The preparation is done and we have done well. Now all we want is for ten o'clock to arrive on Saturday night and let go of all the capacity we have and that preparation we have done for so long. And take advantage of an opportunity that we have that is important. Looking forward to the game time. ”

Can you do a preliminary reading about how you think the party can be? “It is unpredictable. Surely there are players from the Peña Deportiva that perhaps in the month of March did not play due to any injury and that they will appear tomorrow and that we do not know who they are because we are not fortune tellers. And many footballers who at the time of the break were in very good shape and who will not appear. It's easy for them to change the way they play and that's why we have focused on ourselves ”.

What will be the key to the match? Can you avoid fouls outside the area? Faults outside the area can be avoided with concentration and taking great care of the loads when making the entrances. They have good pitchers and it will be an important factor that they do not have direct fouls because they are very dangerous there and they have a lot of potential in attack. The key to the match will be to calm the nerves a little and be calm because the match is going to be long. ”

Should we go out and solve from the beginning? “If we can go to the break 3-0, better than 0-0. It will be complicated. Obviously, the game starts mark a little the evolution of how the minutes go by. The intention will be to make a strong start.

Do you like this new single match format? “Second, third and fourth there is no distinction when facing it. I like this format because, given the conditions that have been there, it is great to play the playoff because it was very complicated. But at the playoff qualifying level there is always some advantage, and in this case, there is no advantage. ”

Does it increase the level of confidence that he has only conceded three losses in the last 50 games? It is an important fact. We have a very good track record. It is a very positive fact for us, but we know that right now it doesn't matter how you get there. The important thing is the 90 minutes of tomorrow. This is a special and new game ”.

Is there more pressure for investment and expectations? Not at all. Marbella is where it needs to be which is fighting to the end with the best teams. We have achieved that. The pressure perhaps at the beginning of the season was greater. But based on work we have managed to be here. Everything is words. We have forgotten the words ‘pressure’ and favorites ’in our minds because they are just words that serve to destabilize or win things. Are words. What matters is tomorrow's 90 ’and doing things to be better than Peña Deportiva. With this new format there is neither pressure nor favoritism ”

Javier Añón, team captain

Another chance. “It is not the same way. Before the promotion to Second B against Eldense I had the bad luck of releasing the team to Third. That was the thorn in his head. Now I think there is important work done during these two years. We have all the possible means. Any Second B player would like to have all the means we have here and the entire structure of the club. Thank God we have it. We are working at a good level and looking forward to the match. ”

The illusion of the hobby. “From wherever it has been able, the fans have responded. They have been there encouraging us and the club has also turned to business in the rocks … They have all done their bit and we have felt their support. I hope we continue to go through us and through them. ”

Feelings? I'm on the same page as the mister. We know Peña Deportiva well because we have seen it and we believe that it is a very complicated rival. We are working and doing things very well and we trust ourselves. We will have to prepare how prepared we are ”.

How do you see entering the history of Marbella with names like Momparlet, Leal, Pacheta or Sergio Kresic? “I have said it on other occasions. I would have liked to play in higher categories and I have not been lucky enough to do so. But I have had no other luck than to defend the team in my city. They have given me the privilege of being able to do it and fighting for this situation is the greatest thing we can live. I am very proud. I feel that it is a different situation that we are going to fight until the end ”.

Will the locker room union be key? “We have all been professionals from the first hour and we got along pretty well. We have each accepted the role. ”

Is this the most difficult and important game of your career? Yes, because we are again like two years ago fighting to raise the city team to a professional category.

What is your secret to kick fouls so effectively? No. We train her. One of the things that I have learned over the years is that I am quite good at set pieces. I have no secret. I'm just trying to hit him with my soul and do my best. ”

Does the pressure increase? I think that everyone in this category wishes we were all in a team that fights for everything and with all possible means. I have experienced difficult situations here and elsewhere. We are in the best hands and conditions. It should not be pressure but work hard. “

Esteban Granero, the benchmark

What feelings do you have? “I played a phase of promotion from Third to Second B with Real Madrid C and we were one goal away from achieving it. Then I played a game of similar importance. We have once commented that the dimension of the category where this series of important games are played has nothing to do with their importance. That is to say, for me what we have ahead is as important or more than what I have experienced in higher categories in First or Champions. As excited as I was before I am now at the gates of this playoff.

Experience will be a grade. “Of course, experience plays a role. We have talked a lot but in the elimination rounds of a match, knowing how to handle its circumstances is an important factor. In our team there are players with more years of professional and with less in that, the experience has nothing to do with the years you have been a professional but with the personality of each player. And we have a group with a strong personality and character that he is prepared to face this situation ”.

How should the team come out? “You have to get in strong. Nowadays the dynamics during the matches are seen to have a great influence and catching a good inertia at the beginning will be important. We know that the rival will come out with everything at the beginning when the legs are fresh and there you have to keep the balance between the momentum, the desire, the illusion and the decision-making ”:

Favorites against Peña Deportiva? “Labels matter little. We think of ourselves and prepare the game as against any team. We are facing an opportunity for all of us. And we can be a Second Division team in ten days. That is something so close that it is unique. And so we have to win tomorrow's game. We do not conceive anything else ”.

Only a year ago, the Europa League preview played with Espanyol. Is it comparable to this playoff? “It is not comparable. This situation is unique. On that occasion we had two bullets, double round. This is a single game and in a week where we play something very important as footballers and as a group. And for the club ”.

Have your colleagues asked you for advice? The experience where it makes a difference is in complex situations on the field and there we players have to respond more than in a speech. I think the theory is well known to all players. You have to be prepared in the field and I have no doubts about any teammate.

Would this be like winning a Champions League? I didn't win any. I stayed at the gates in the semifinals. I hope I can say that he is promoted with Marbella to the Second Division. I am here with that goal.

Any match in your sports career as special as this one? “The other day we were in the chat with Álvaro. He said that this playoffs is something similar to international competitions, European Cups, World Cups … you are concentrating and now, with the current special circumstances, it is similar. It is spending rounds. I have not played Euro Cups or World Cups, but it must be similar ”

Pressure? “Expectations are always positive. In my personal case it was always like this, the more expectations I have had my performance has been better. What the club has done for us, rather than pressure, what has generated us is tranquility. There have been teams with ERTES, or salary reductions and we have been privileged. We feel at ease with the club. It is not the club but it is the responsibility to correspond to that trust that we have for us ”

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