Jaume Valens, Alcoyano’s goalkeeper, clearly outlines the obstacles weighing on a squad that has struggled to finish this season with a third straight placement in the Primera RFEF. Deportivo remains mired in a downward arc, now four weeks without breaking it, after a draw against Linares (1-1) at El Collao, marking the third consecutive stalemate for the team. The mood in the locker room is tense but not devoid of purpose, as players insist on keeping a steady head and rebuilding confidence step by step.
“The key is to keep a calm mind and free ourselves from the pressure when we’re on the pitch. I’m sure that goals and victories will arrive once we align, settle down, and trust in the plan. There is a solid group of top players here”, said the Majorca-born goalkeeper, who earned a starting debut with Alcoyano this season and now carries more responsibility in front of the defense. His words reflect a belief that the squad possesses the talent needed to climb back, provided the balance and concentration return to match the team’s ambitions.
Vicente, an ex-player and exporter from La Nucía, defended Parras’ continuity amid growing questions about the team’s results. The club’s performance has sparked debate about the coaching staff, yet there is no suggestion of a change in leadership. After Deportivo signed a balance agreement and collected only six points from 24, the need for steady progress remains clear. Still, the sentiment across the dressing room is that the coach’s experience at Alcoyano carries weight and that the current group must absorb his tactical concepts to move forward effectively.
“The whole locker room supports him. The coach has a history at Alcoyano that does not need to be stated again; we are many new faces and we are trying to adapt to his ideas. Right now we have full confidence in the work we do”, the goalkeeper added, underscoring a collective belief that improvement is within reach through unity and persistence.
He also highlighted a positive sign in the team’s growth: defensive resilience. Alcoyano has conceded only one goal across the last three fixtures, a statistic that signals a shift in identity and a return to solidity at the back. That stability has the potential to anchor an ascent, even as results elsewhere in the table still demand consistent points. The goalkeeper emphasized that the early-season momentum, though difficult to sustain, laid a foundation that the team can rebuild from, especially when the schedule tightens and every match carries significant weight.
“It was a solid start before the road grew steeper for the squad, and now the team looks firm again. Collecting points is always positive, and we have done so in three straight games. Yet given our position in the standings, it is most important to accumulate three points at a time because the days pass quickly”, he admitted, revealing a pragmatic view of the season’s arc and the constant pressure to translate performance into results.
Attention turns to this Sunday’s trip to Huelva for a visit to Nuevo Colombino to confront Recreativo at 18:00. That clash could prove pivotal for the dean of Spanish football as Alcoyano seeks to end a current streak of draws and restore a sense of momentum with a victory. The last time such a turning point occurred was at the season’s start, when Alcoyano defeated Atlético Sanluqueño (3-1) on home soil, a memory that still fuels belief among players and supporters alike.
Valens reiterated the mindset required to seize those three points from the outset of the week. He described it as an essential step forward, stating that the team must treat the upcoming match as a major test in a division where competition remains fierce. The captain of this squad, now in his first season with Alcoyano, reflected on the significance of October as a critical month and urged the group to approach it with determination and collective effort, aiming to transform potential into tangible results and restore confidence across every line of the club.