Sergio Pellicer: “Arnau's death has left us in a state of shock”

Death of Francesc Arnau. “We have been left in a state of shock, shocked. He was a player, coordinator, Academy director, sports director … But I stay with the person, I stay with him. Wherever he is, thanks on a personal level for what I was able to live with. Offer condolences to his family, very few words come out. I am sure that wherever he is he will be an angel for Marc and Pol (they are his children). Thank you, still excited about this whole situation. A week and a half ago he was talking to the entire expedition in Oviedo. We were talking to the entire coaching staff for a couple of minutes. It is a personal matter, few words can I say. May he give strength and rest in peace wherever he is. That we will miss him very much ”.

Minute of silence in training. “We are people and we have shown that behind any professional in any field there is a person. Although outsiders have opinions without knowing, it is difficult to know what is happening. We decided to do the minute of silence for him. It is thought that you have to keep the professional and the personal separate, but it is not always possible, sometimes it is impossible. Yesterday we did a recovery training and today in the best possible way to prepare for the game. You have to separate people's feelings. Each one has a feeling. This shows that the person is ahead of any job and professional. We are trying to focus on racing, as I think we competed all season.

Equipment status. “The other day the team, after a difficult week, with the distraction of many people, showed impressive humility, energy and sacrifice. And it is a pity that the fans do not enjoy it on the field, it is not clear how it is ordered, how it suffers and how it is delivered from television. This team is not boring, it has pride. The Girona coach made a statement about the intensity of the team. And I tell him it was the same throughout the season. Yesterday I saw how Elche celebrated salvation. And we have not been able to celebrate it like they did yesterday because we have saved almost eight days. Sometimes only suffering things are valued. With this group of players there are no doubts ”.

Three penalty matches. “You had to keep quiet after the game, but I have to say that the fourth official failed. This is a team effort. If in my coaching staff I do not have someone prepared, I fail. The words contained in the minutes were previously. The expulsion was later. It is the word of the fourth official against the defenselessness of the coaches. I can not say more. You have to shut up. The working groups are very large and there is always a visible head. But there are many people who help you in each profession. I hope they all work together. The referees must all think the same and that is all I ask. But what he says is not true. Once I was expelled for leaving my technical area and once for making a gesture towards me, I got angry with a player of mine. You lose three games and you can't do anything. I hope that it does not happen again, that communication improves and respect for everyone “.

Situation of the injured. “Caye has only done one training session, he travels practically as a precaution and if there is an emergency. Luis Muñoz has two sessions in a row after two weeks unemployed. And Escassi must be praised for what he is doing, like the vast majority of all colleagues. 98% or 99% of the players are giving the limit. We thought he could not be there, but yesterday he recovered, today he trained and with all the casualties we have, his effort is appreciated, you see in their faces the desire to compete. Caye has not trained far from 100%. The subsidiary competes today, it is a club job and thank God it can be done because the goal has been achieved before. Let's compete and see how we clarify, if we start with 11-10 professionals. We traveled this Monday and we have tried with a goalkeeper in each part playing just in case, so that he can come ”.

Hicham State. “He is accumulating training loads. In the previous list it was for him to join the group, but he is not yet to help. We prefer that you train and recover, doing the necessary uploads and downloads. Let's see if he recovers for next week and for him to play the last game it would be important for him, to compete thinking about his future, on an emotional level. We have to adjust to avoid taking risks. Little by little those injuries are forgotten, but you have to be very careful ”.

How was the day after announcing your goodbye? “The day after, go out to the press conference, work for the next game and go to be with my family at home. It was tremendously difficult because of the decision we had made, the most difficult professionally of my life. It is a brave decision and for the good of all. Time puts everyone in their place and it will be possible to see it differently, I am convinced. You have to know how to get out of the places when you give it your all. I am from Castellón, but from Malaga also one more. My coaching staff and I are Malaguistas and it is also something that should be valued.

Jose Alberto Lopez. “Choose whoever Manolo Gaspar chooses will be the ideal one for next season, in which there will be more resources in principle. The fans will be able to enjoy and it will be another plus. All the coaches have my respect. He's having a very good season at Mirandés. The two press conferences said that Málaga had a great team that could fight for much more, it is an ambition for a future to have goals much more ambitious than what we have had to look for this year and a half ”.

Referees “You always have to have empathy and put yourself in the shoes of any professional. When I give my opinion, I put myself in the place of the other person. We are all wrong. The one that more me, that I make decisions continuously. It is a movie within the profession. We want to do the best role. Everyone wants to do their best. They want to be better, but you have to act honestly and honestly. It is about lying down and sleeping peacefully ”.