He was one of the men called to be important at the beginning of the second round. Due to his conditions and everything he encompasses, he is one of the players who can shine at Málaga CF. However, some discomfort, now in his hamstrings, is going to make him stop again and he will be out for the big game against Castellón. Despite everything, he attends to The Opinion of Malaga to take stock of the first half, the challenges posed to those of Dick Schreuder and the great objective to be achieved in Martiricos.
It was better. She had a streak of stops because the better she was, she stopped. I have had the nose and adductor problem. Then when I was counting down the minutes a blow occurred again in training. I had been training for a couple of weeks and I felt like the Juanpe I want to be like.
It seems difficult to get into a rhythm like this in a new team.
Yes, it’s been a bit on and off. Every time I’ve been better, I’ve had an accident. These are things that can happen. In football you are very exposed and I have had the bad luck that everything has happened to me. One cannot control the blows, the breaks, the training, but I hope this second round will be better.
He’s been here for several months now. Adapted to the city, right?
Yes. From the first day in preseason I already felt like one more with my teammates. We are a very close and very familiar group. It is one of the groups in which I have found myself best. He is young, but People are aware of where we are, what needs to be done and we help each other. In that aspect, I feel at home because it is very easy in the city and with the club, the proximity and the work group that we are forming. I have had no problems and I would like to achieve the objectives we have with the club and the fans. It is a place where we can be for a long time and we have to work to fulfill it.
Have you been able to enjoy tourism in the province?
The truth is that in that aspect I am very focused, I am very calm. I like to go from home to work and from work to home. Yes, it is true that on your days off you have some moments like Christmas. I focus more on work, on resting at home. Malaga has everything and my partner and I are very comfortable.
How were the conversations and calls to arrive at the Malaga CF?
I was on my honeymoon. My agent called me telling me that Málaga CF was interested. When I arrive in Spain everything is done very quickly, in two or three days with Loren because there was interest on both sides. I knew the club from having come to play at La Rosaleda two or three times.. Although I went down a category, I went up a step by feeling like a footballer in a more important club. The objective attracts me from the first moment.
The Cádiz native will have to stop again due to an injury. / Alex Zea
Was there an option to talk to Lugo or any other offer that made you hesitate?
It was done at the beginning of summer, but there were interests from several teams. Lugo told me before the end of the season that he was counting on me. It is also true that several Second Division clubs asked about me And as soon as I found out about Málaga CF’s interest, I didn’t think about it. We made a contract in which I felt like a man of the club, ownership, a feeling of belonging. For me the goal was very important and I did it with ambition, it was very appropriate to my way of understanding football.
Did being close to home have an influence?
Sure, I spent three years in Galicia, but the weather has nothing to do with it, the atmosphere, the people… The proximity to home, seeing more of the family that comes often. My wife is from Jaén and she is closer, it has been a joint decision. She prioritized sports, but extra-sports helped to come.
What grade does the team get in the first round?
Honestly, I think we have done a pretty good first round. We have had many injuries and we have been at the top fighting for the lead. Yes, it is true that in recent days we have had a break, it has been a little more complicated for us, but the first lap, for all the accidents we have had, I consider it good. We know that if the second round is the same as the first, it will not help us achieve our objective.
What has happened at the beginning of 2024? From being the least scored team in the category to 5 goals in two games. What is said in the locker room? What reasons are there?
It is true that both with Intercity and in Ceuta we put ourselves behind and we have to go all out in attack. In Ceuta, when we achieved the most difficult thing, which is to come back, I think we lack experience, knowing that we have to endure the result instead of going for more and being so open. They caught us on the counterattack and scored goals with little. We know the mistakes we have made and those are important. We have to work in this second round so that when these circumstances of being behind on the scoreboard pass, they don’t score such easy goals for us.
Is what the team has done so far in Castellón and Ibiza valued less and does it seem that Málaga CF has less merit?
Of course. If you look at the other group, they are very even in points with us. We have to look at ourselves. It is true that Ibiza and Castellón border on excellence. This is very long, we have to focus on ourselves without being aware of others because it is not our concern. It is true that what we are doing seems less because there are two teams that border on excellence.
Juanpe will miss Sunday’s game against Castellón. / Alex Zea
Now one of them arrives at La Rosaleda. How have they prepared week?
It’s been a very good week. We are aware of the things to improve, we are very excited and looking forward to Sunday with our fans. It’s one more game in which you have to win. If we want to achieve the goal, games like this are the ones we have to move forward with.
Does the player feel a special itch in a week of this type?
Yes of course. This match is not going to be decisive for the future of the season either, but It is a rival that is bordering on excellence. You have to give 100% of each one. It is very important for the mood as a team to start the second round on the right foot. We are doing our daily work and we hope that on Sunday all the Málaga CF that we are with our fans, that connection that is so important and that it will be beautiful.
The season is long, after this game there are 18 more left. Stay 13 points away from Castellón… Is there talk of a final for direct promotion?
No, end to nothing. There are 19 games left, there will be time to play them at the end of the season. We play every game to win. We are aware that every time we don’t do it we are one step further behind. We don’t look any further, it’s important and we have to win. Working as always, improving the things that we have been doing a little worse. We do not approach the game as a final. It is a challenge and there is the second round, we have to start it on the right foot.
With the market advanced, do you think those reinforcements that everyone talks about are needed?
I focus on the daily work of those of us who are here giving 100%. The club’s board does its job, we trust them. What concerns us footballers is training. Whatever has to come will come if they see it opportune.
The name that has been most popular, Kike Pérez has even confirmed it, is David Ferreiro. Do you know him from having faced him or even personally?
I don’t know him personally. He has been playing in the Second Division for many years, he has experience.
He’s been talking about the goal all season without mentioning the word, but there’s an obligation to be among the top five, right?
Clear, For me, not being in that fight for promotion would be a failure., that’s why all of us who decided so have come. It is a common goal and not achieving it would be a failure.
He has a contract until 2026. It is known that it is a minimum 2-year project. Would you have a problem staying if you can’t get it now or are you coming to stay for a long time?
I have three years signed, I have come to fulfill the objective. Every day I wake up I work for it, be it this year, next year or the next. The sooner it is achieved the better, but it should not cloud our vision beyond the next game because we will be wasting time talking about something that is still very early.
2024-01-20 06:00:56
#Interview #Juanpe #Jiménez #Málaga #player
