Ariadne Hernández: 'A Strong squad is the key to success'

Ariadne Hernández, the newly signed centre-back for UD Almería, was officially introduced to the media in a press conference led by Mariano Blanco, the Club's board secretary. The 36-year-old defender shared his thoughts on his adaptation to the team, the importance of squad unity and the challenges ahead.

Hernández, who joins from Rayo Vallecano, admitted that the transition to his new club took some time. 'It's been a long summer,' he began. 'At first, it took me a while to get into the rhythm, but after two weeks of solid training, I feel physically strong. There are a lot of us here and those who are in the best shape should play.'

When discussing his style of play, the Fuerteventura native pointed out that the demands of the second division have helped him fine-tune his game. 'I'm a decisive player,' he said.

'The second division teaches you to position yourself better on the pitch and communicate effectively with your team-mates. This reduces mistakes and helps us work towards success,' he added.

One of the standout points for Ariadne was the team's atmosphere. He praised the collective spirit: 'The atmosphere is very healthy here, there are no egos, which can sometimes crop up in football. The commitment is clear from everyone.'

Looking ahead to the season, Hernández stressed the importance of squad unity. 'There are a few things we need to fine-tune to avoid a goal massacre, but we’re working on that,' he explained.

Drawing on past experiences, the latest addition reflected on his time at teams that may not have had star players but were successful as cohesive units, such as CA Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano. 'Unity is the key to success,' he said.

Finally, Ariadne Hernández turned his attention to the upcoming clash against Real Valladolid CF, a club he is familiar with from his early football career. 'We need to be very active,' he said, acknowledging the tough challenge posed by their intense pressing game. 'The atmosphere there is always electric and we need to be ready for that.'

With his commitment to the team and clear understanding of what it takes to succeed, Ariadne is ready to help UD Almería rise to new heights this season.