Hércules defender Roger Riera, who will not play against Olot this Sunday as the club’s appeal failed after he was dismissed at Lleida, said yesterday that every match has been like a final since he signed for the Alicante team earlier this season. “This is not the category that touched him at the level of club history. Catalan, who was the author of the winning goal on the Lleida field on the last match day, is a team that should be the leader from the first match day.”
With the victory in Lleida, the team saved a delicate situation…
Every week we go through a delicate situation, or so it seems. What we have to do is focus on playing as well as we can because the better we play, the closer we will be to winning.
They must be used to playing finals every week…
Apperantly. Since I came on the second match day, every week seems like a final because we are not in the category that corresponds to the club’s history level. We have to be the leader from the first match day and that’s why every week is a final for us.
Is pressure noticeable in a club like Hercules?
For example, I was lucky enough to play for Barcelona, and there is pressure even with young people. We were going to play a tournament at Easter and we had to win. There are many clubs playing with this pressure, and Hercules is one of them.
Is it positive to play so many “finals” so they get more used to it in the real-time?
First we have to get to the playoffs. The final we are close to now is Olot, a team that is very low in numbers but very advanced in terms of gameplay and should score more points. Coming from two wins in a row. I saw him the other day and I really liked how he played. It will be a very difficult match.
First off, its calendar is more affordable than the rest of its direct competitors.
I don’t know which is better, having Olot risking his life to avoid relegation or having a middle table team playing less in front of them? In the end, we have to do the calendar well. We have the capacity to beat anyone and the focus should be on us.
Is it difficult for the team to play “relaxed” and therefore quit?
It is clear that the players are the first players we want and we are asking the outside to join in. So it’s hard for us to play a little looser and relaxed, but we played well for long times in Lleida the other day and had a very good half hour in the first half to gain more advantage and take a penalty. We played well in the second half. The team took a step forward and three points in the end is not accidental.
Have you ever scored that many goals?
No, not in the same season. In the Netherlands, I think I scored four goals in one year.
Almost more goals than the team’s forwards…
After all, football is a sports game. The striker will defend first and the goalkeeper will attack first. Carlos (Abad), who started his offensive game very well the other day, has two situations. You have to do your best in every position.
The important thing is that they enjoyed the bitterness of being together with Terrassa…
Yes, because in the end the goals were two gifts and we managed to get rid of that bitter taste. In the end, what you leave behind, for better or worse, no longer matters. It is necessary to take the negative things from Lleida’s points but fix them. Complaining is useless and we have to take the positive energy and focus on what comes before us, namely Olot, and play from there as well as possible.
Three of the next five games are at home…
Importantly, we prefer to play at home rather than away. We know Rico Pérez and we know the possibilities he offers us. You should try to take advantage of this and get as many points as possible to be as close as possible. The first is Olot, we will consider the others.
How did you see your deportation in Lleida?
The referees, like the players, want to do their best, risk promotion or relegation… These were the tense weeks, the referee realized that was the case… I don’t care. Share but respect.
It’s a shame to miss such an important match…
Of course, it is the players who want to play first and win. It hurts me but there is a lot at stake for everyone here and you should try to facilitate and respect the decisions made by the referees.
What is Olot waiting for?
I liked Olot better in the match he saw against Deportivo Aragón, a team that has a football offer that he wants to play and be the lead role in. In a big field like Rico Pérez this will be in his favour, and he’ll feel comfortable being similar to his own. He will try to force and suggest things.