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Martínez: “Our only focus is the match tomorrow”
The coach insists that all eyes are on Friday's trip to RCD Mallorca
Diego Martínez has insisted that his team are fully focused on Friday’s match against RCD Mallorca.
RCD Espanyol make the trip to the Visit Mallorca Estadi in search of a crucial three points to climb up the LaLiga table. The coach looked ahead to the clash in his pre-match press conference, speaking at the RCDE Stadium on Thursday.
Martínez said, “Our only focus is the match tomorrow. We want to improve and work very hard every week. The team is strong, and we are all clear about what we have to do to win games. It's easy to say, but you have to do it during the match.
“If this team has one thing, it’s that when things hurt us, we try to channel that pain day-by-day to improve, to demand more of ourselves and try to rebel against the situations we face.”
Espanyol are just two spots behind Mallorca going into Friday’s match, knowing that a win would move them above their opponents by the end of the round.
“I am excited about this team,” Martínez said, “I believe in the team, in the players, in this project. I have come to stay here for a long time and do something worthwhile. I knew that the start would be very difficult, and I have said that we have to savour each point because it really matters.
He added, “This team wants to grow and they work hard, even though no one can be happy; we want and need to have more points. There are three league games and one cup game left before the break. We have to focus on getting those points.”
Rúben Sánchez, Gori and Adrià Pedrosa are unavailable for the trip to Mallorca through injury. Óscar Gil and Joselu are doubts and will be evaluated ahead of the match.
Martínez said, “I consider things in the short term or in the very long term. In the short term, I want to win tomorrow and then the next match, and the match after that. In the long term, on matchday 38, let's all be happy and that will be the moment to evaluate what has been done.”