First Team
We're forcing ourselves to be brave enough against the first-team players
UD Almería B youngsters Marcos Peña, Antonio Jesús Cantón and Paco Sanz share their first impressions as they have been called up to first-team training during this international break
Eight UD Almería 'B' youngsters have been called up to senior-team training to make up for the absences of the first teamers who have received international duty calls during this break in LaLiga EA Sports. Last Tuesday, Paco Sanz, Antonio Jesús Cantón, Marcos Peña, Joan, Valen and Hugo Neves were under the orders of head coach Vicente Moreno and this Wednesday, Peñalver has also joined the group. Bruno Iribarne has also been taking part in the first team's football practices since the pre-season.
Two of the players have moved up from UD Almería U19 'A' to the 'B' team, Marcos Peña and Paco Sanz, as well as Almeria-born Antonio Jesús Cantón, who after playing for the youth teams of FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF and earning promotion to the Segunda Division with SD Amorebieta last season, has returned to his homeland to sign for UD Almería 'B'. The three excited players have visited the UDA Radio studio to share their experience training with the first team.
'I told my team-mates to have personality and not be afraid,' said Marcos Peñas, who despite being only 18 years old is a 'veteran' because he was with the first team last season and also in the recent pre-season. 'I'm happy to gradually carving out a niche in professional football,' stressed Paco Sanz, while Antonio Jesús Cantón highlighted: 'I've been away for many years and returning to my hometown and training with the first team is an honour. I'm all chuffed.' The three of them feel a great sense of pride as they have been given this opportunity to be able to work under the guidelines of head coach Vicente Moreno.
The trio arrived at the UDA Radio studio feeling 'exhausted" after training, because 'the level and pace is very high,' indicated Paco Sanz, although he did not hesitate to stress that they are actually prepared. Antonio Jesús Cantón admitted: 'When you arrive, you feel a bit nervous,' although he added: 'When the ball starts rolling, everything changes and you focus on work.' When asked which players were the most fun or gave them advice, he replied: 'They all help us loads,' Paco Sanz pointed out; meanwhile Marcos Peña explained the following: 'Baptistao and Embarba, who are among those with the most extensive experience, are well aware of the pressure we're under and they tell us to be calm because they've also gone through this.'
They positively value the atmosphere within the dressing room. They have been surprised by the attitude of all the UD Almería members, although Paco Sanz underlined: 'Luis Suárez plays every ball to the death as if it were the last. He fights but also gives us good advise and everyone helps us to become the best version of ourselves.'
Antonio Jesús also referred to the enormous potential of Akieme or Chumi, to name but a few. They have no qualms about giving everything: 'Our coach, Lasarte, told us to make the most of this opportunity and to try to perform at our best and always pluck up the courage.' They are not 'shy' when it comes to force themselves to be brave enough when tackling Ramazani, Robertone, Melero... In fact, they said that if they don't do it, the first teamers will ask them: 'What are you doing here? [Laughs].
