His return to Hercules isn’t a dream season. His performance is not as expected, nor is it the performance of the team that will play for more than half a season against Formentera this Sunday. Míchel Herrero assures that the team looks forward to the match at Rico Pérez to remove a thorn.

How does the squad feel after four losses in the last five games?

We are eager to fix these bugs that are currently punishing us and want to compete and play another game to turn this situation around. We are all aware of the time we are going through but this Sunday there is an illusion and a terrible desire to play in front of our fans.

Can we talk about the end of this match with Formentera?

We are aware, but we have been playing the final for a long time. All matches are very important. Now we play directly against opponents, but if we want to reach our goal, what we have to do is now add three to three, starting by beating at home a very difficult opponent who had already beaten us in the first round. We have that little thorn in us, we’ve had a very difficult return journey and now we want the same thing to happen in reverse.

With the arrival of Lolo Escobar, what could have caused such good results to be the opposite now?

From my experience I say that football is a streak. We also made mistakes when we won, but they didn’t punish us or weren’t seen that much. It’s true that we now create less danger, less chances to score and miss some very clear because goalkeepers make incredible saves. We have a bit of a lack of concentration and commitment in our region. I think we should all give a little bit more from forward to goalie, all outfielders. We didn’t get rid of any of them. We know we have to give 120 percent because otherwise we are nothing and we are not a team.

Such a negative line is psychologically…

Yes, logically we came back from Ibiza wounded. You want the trip to end as soon as possible, you go home and you can’t help but think about the match, we put on videos…we look at what we did well and what we did wrong. We do a lot of things well in games, but then we need to fix things like set balls. This is where we did well in the games we won and we are less strong now. We are all aware of mistakes and what you need to do is educate and fix them together. We have to put everything on our side in Sunday’s game. You have two bad days and then you look forward to the next game.

Do you understand the criticism of your irregular season?

I don’t have nets, I don’t look at the press… my football experience tells me you don’t have to look at anything. We should not pay attention to both good and bad opinions. I don’t know what is being said about me, but the criticisms seem reasonable and normal to me. Everyone has their own opinion and I accept that. If the criticism was only directed at me and nothing was done to the other players, I would be more than happy not to put pressure on them. I will continue to do what I am trying to do, namely helping the team. I would like to score more goals, assist more… but I had to adjust to the level of the category and it was a bit long and difficult. I try to do what the coach wants me to do. I am no longer as close to the target as I used to be. I give 100 percent and it will get better or worse but you can’t doubt me because I give my all for this shield and this city that has given me so much. I will make my sacrifice in every match and leave my skin.

Do you expect a tense atmosphere on Sunday?

And which Sunday does not. At the moment, the situation of the fans with the club is seen and we perceive this on the field. They can squeeze us in here, that’s logical and normal and we’re ready for it. My message to the fans is that we will try to reverse the situation out of the pride and sacrifice of the team. The commitment of the locker room is brutal, both for the players and the coaching staff. Let them express what they want, but not doubt us. We need them more than ever and we will give everything we have to move this game forward.