‘We have a unique opportunity so we want to take advantage of it’
Iván Martos states that the team have changed their mentality since the play-off dates are known
‘We have a unique opportunity so we want to take advantage of it’, were the statements made by Iván Martos at the end of Saturday's training session, after which UD Almería continue to count the days until the play-offs’ kick-off. For this reason, the footballer highlighted: ‘Everybody is highly motivated by a deep desire to train hard under the new coaching staff’s instructions and try to demonstrate the good things that they have been doing throughout the year.’
After ‘having a minor scare over coronavirus’, the left-back talked about the two people who have tested positive for COVID-19, ‘the dressing room keep calm and there is a relaxing atmosphere when the most important stage of the season approaches.
Moreover, Martos acknowledged that ‘these last few weeks have been a bit difficult’ as the exact moment in which the play-off matches could be played was not known. Thereby, knowing the dates has led the Almeria team to ‘change their attitude for the better and with the mentality set in the first game. In this sense, he mentioned: ‘I think this is a good moment for the team.’
The 23-year-old defender analysed the forthcoming game against Girona, defining it as ‘a very competitive team with whom the games are long and small details mark the difference.’ This fact has led him to point out that ‘we will have to try to reduce mistakes and try to take advantage of the opportunities we have.’
The new head coach José Gomes will debut in that game. Regarding the new team’s gaffer, Iván Martos stressed that this break has served to make everyone get to know each other better and, in addition, he explained that ‘little by little the playing style that the head coach wants has been seen during training. I trul think that on Thursday, we will see an identity of a team that want to outstand both controlling the ball and without it. We really want to take the lead and do our very best to defeat the opponents’, he concluded.