Alex Centelles: ‘We’ve got a lot riding on promotion’

The countdown in LaLiga SmartBank begins with the first reverse game of the second-tier competition and Almería are not taking anything for granted even though they achieved their last impressive result in the Spanish Cup third-round. This is what Álex Centelles expressed: ‘We did a great job in the Copa del Rey tie against a top-flight team. We proved that we don’t care about the league level because that team compete in the same way against any rivals and in whatever stadium. We know perfectly well that our prime objective it’s promotion and the important thing now is to focus on the league. Any team in the Second Division can beat you, no matter where they sit in the table.’

The 21-year-old left-back has referred to the return match against Sabadell during a friendly chat with UDA Radio: ‘Those sides below are striving for permanence in the second division, but we’re also have got a lot riding on promotion hopes and there’s no excuse not to play great matches regardless of whether opponents are either at the top or at the bottom of the table.’

On this subject, all of Centelles attention is focused on the present moment: ‘Our goal is what it is. We work towards it ever single match week. Our sights are set on winning every game.’ Almería will be playing this weekend while their direct rivals have already done so: ‘It’s inevitable to look at the results but the key is consistency. All of your hard work will pay off soon. We are focusing squarely on our goal and nothing else,’ explained.

Almería will find out their next Copa del Rey rivals on Friday. Although there are no preferences, the native of Valencia does recognise that facing his former team would be rather special: ‘It's not something important either but I was born in Valencia so it’d be nice if we faced each other in the Copa del Rey. I insist that game by game is our way.’