Tomás Pina: “We do ourselves a disservice if we put pressure on ourselves”

The man from La Mancha commented that “when you have a bad result and it’s difficult to assimilate like the last one at home against Granada, what you want is to play often. Personally, I don’t like national team breaks very much. What you want is to play as soon as possible but this is how things come and this is how we have to deal with them.”said the Glorioso midfielder.

Speaking of permanence, he assured that “the situation now is similar to last year when Calleja came. I’m not much of looking at calendars, you have to go week by week. The only thing that generates us is anxiety. We do ourselves a disservice if we push ourselves. You have to face the games calmly.”

Alavés beat Atlético de Madrid in the first round and, according to Pina, “We have to support each other in everything that allows us to raise morale. Taking that example is a good idea. We have to prepare well for the game and try to add to the Wanda. It is another day in which we play a lot. We know where we are failing and we have to correct it.”. There is a lot of room for improvement. “It’s not normal for us to be with that baggage of points. We have to be more solid. The last game was tough but I think we were on the right track because we were competing. We must not concede chances, make the games longer and prevent them from scoring quick goals”I observe.

On the change of system, he pointed out that “that assessment corresponds to the coach. Whoever comes out has to die for the team, I don’t think it’s a matter of systems but rather of players. There are few points and what we want is to be competitive again and travel to Madrid with the idea that we can score. We have been preparing some things that can help us on Saturday,” he added.

The team is united and aware. “This week has not been the case because we do not usually talk very often after setbacks like the other day. But we do tend to chat and comment on the things that happen to us. Not falling apart and maintaining enthusiasm and motivation is the most important thing right now. We have to give importance to the head, to see if the dynamics change and we come up. That happens with the fans and with the team,” he asserted.

Mendilibar has been questioned about the latest results but Pina said that “I am with the coach and, without ignoring the hard blows and the situation we are in, we have to look forward. I see people very involved in training and wanting to get it out. The results are what they are and, although there are later personal cases, I remain optimistic. And whoever is not, to do an exercise at home to get psyched up.”

On a personal level, the player from La Mancha ends his contractual relationship in June but “I, as things are, I’m not looking at that right now. The first thing is to achieve the objective of permanence and then there will be time to talk and see what is decided. Until the season is over, we will surely not make any decision,” he said.