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Darder: "If we win, we will be back in the fight"

The RCD Espanyol captain talks before the important derby against FC Barcelona

Being RCD Espanyol captain for the Catalan derby is the responsibility that befalls Sergi Darder, with high stakes for the Sunday night showdown with FC Barcelona. Whilst their opponents would clinch the LaLiga title with a win, Los Pericos are battling to keep their top flight survival chances alive.

Speaking before the game, Darder was frank in his assessment that the team have not achieved the results that they had hoped for throughout the season, and insisted that a run of wins was needed in the closing games.

“I know that the fans want actions and words. Anything I say is useless if we don't win on Sunday. A derby is always a spectacular occasion. It's a 'final' for us and we need to win. We are very much looking forward to it. We are highly motivated and convinced that we can do it," he said on the eve of the match.

“We cannot leave even one percent in reserve. If every game is a final, this one is even more so -not only for us, but also for all the people to whom we owe so much in this season and in previous campaigns."

On the importance of the game, he explained that “if we win we will continue to have survival in our own hands. If we win we will be back in the fight. No matter what happens, we have to go out there motivated. When we are not ourselves is when we don't perform well. We have to go out there confident and be brave. No one can have more motivation than us. We have to think that we need three points to save ourselves. It's a final. And if we win this game, the next one will be another final. We have to be convinced that we have to win."

Finally, Darder added that the team are not contemplating an FC Barcelona victory this Sunday.

"They will win LaLiga sooner or later, but we will do everything possible so that it doesn't happen this Sunday."