Luis Muñoz: “Antoñín has been beaten everywhere”

Feelings after his return. “I expected that he would be more tired. The recovery has gone perfectly. I’m doing quite a few treatments, icing, taking care of myself. It’s what I have left because it’s been seven months without competing and it’s not easy at all. Anyone who has been through this injury knows it.”

Has your return been more out of necessity? “It is true that I am still not 100 percent. I’ve been seven months and with this injury they are competing again after nine months. I still have a bit to go to reach my level and form. The knee is perfect, but I don’t have the competition rhythm. I think it was by decision of the coach, who trusted that he would return. It is also true that the team was in need”.

Opportune moment to return. “In the hotel we were a little uneasy, nervous because we knew what we were risking because we were two points away from relegation and what the club represents. From the meal we were focused on the fact that we had to get the three points as it was. It was not easy to play against Tenerife, a team that is playing for the playoffs. The team turned out the way it did and we were very happy”.

Players like Sergio Canales or Sergio Asenjo went through the same trance on several occasions and came back at full strength. During his convalescence did you think about these cases? “These injuries come to you when you least expect it. I did not expect to have this injury. You always have to deal with it in the best possible way. Working in the shadows is not easy. I want to thank Toni (referring to Antonio Tapia, the recuperator) because he has always been with me in the shadows at all times. He knows that I have been through situations, not bad but difficult. It is an injury where you have to go through cycles of testing or evolution. Thank God my evolution has gone perfectly. I have been very stubborn and I have insisted a lot on recovering in the best way possible. And so it has been.”

View from outside the team. “The first month and a half I was a bit separated from the group because I couldn’t come to train because of the recovery, the points and the rest that you have to have. It’s been a complicated year with situations that we didn’t expect like my injury, Juande’s or other teammates’. Pablo Chavarría was coming back from injury and it was costing him a bit. Now it’s very good. I talk to him every training session and I see him very well and he has let go of how he came. It has not been easy. In the first lap we expected to have something more. Potholes and bad times came and the club had to make decisions with a change of coaches as we have all seen. We are where we deserve to be. My teammates have made an incredible effort and there were games where we were unlucky not because they were better than us, but because the balance was more on the bad side than the good side. With the arrival of the new coach, the team has taken an incredible leap. He has put one hundred percent positive energy into the group which was what we needed.”

Talk with Pablo Guede. “I had a bit of uncertainty, because I didn’t get to compete 100%. I told him how I was. I’m from here, I’m from Malaga, a Malaguista and I have a bit of desire and heart to be able to compete with the team despite not being 100%. Now that I’m available, I wanted to contribute”.

Prolegomena of his jump to the field. “I did a strong preventive and the coach came to me and told me: ‘when you come out after 10 minutes I’m going to have to change’. He was a strong preventive and with many exercises because this injury requires it. In the first games he was undecided. For competing again knowing what we were playing for. But the minutes passed and I felt better, more at ease. We were able to get ahead, not everything we trained came out. I think it was one of the best games we’ve had all year. We hope to seal them with all our people”.

closer to the target. “Calmness must always be had at all times. We are still wanting to get the three points, which is the most important thing. There is nothing saved. We got three important points but nothing has been done. We have to go out and give 100% to achieve victory with our people”.

Possible full at La Rosaleda. “The fans are very important to us, it’s a difficult game, complicated. Burgos is not going to make it easy for us. A welcome is always good, they encourage us and help us 100%. When they are with us, we give 100%. There have been difficult times and they have not neglected us. They came to talk to us to give us our support. At times like now, it’s important that they cheer for 90 minutes.”

The final against Burgos. “From the first moment we are talking. Today we have made a video, analyzing how the rival will play, how to hurt him. We know first-hand that on Saturday it is important to get the victory. It is a difficult year and we would like to win here to enjoy with our people. Do not go to Lugo risking our salvation”.

Luis Muñoz is asked about Antoñín, who will not return to a call with Pablo Guede. “We talked to him at the time. Sticks have rained down on him everywhere. We have to focus on getting the win. The past, the past is. We are all united. He wants us to win yes or yes. I know firsthand. We have to focus on the victory and leave the things that have already happened”.

Burgos will arrive with all their homework done. “Although nothing is at stake, Burgos is professional, we go out to compete and give our best. We have to go out with everything, to die, it will not be an easy match. It is a very competitive team that, although nothing is at stake, wants to come and win. We are here to counter their game, enter them and hurt them”.

What do you expect from the fans? “They know the situation during the year. We would all have signed to be as we are. Five from the descent. It is a beautiful moment, that all our people come. I am inviting all my family and friends and these, in turn, other family and friends. We want the Rosaleda full”.

About Kevin: “Modern football is not easy. As you are above you are below. You must keep calm and improve every day and train as if it were the last day. Be attentive to all your companions. We all want the collective good and the individual good. We all help each other as a group. I went through that situation. The most important thing is to never give up.”