Between the sting of realizing they are still far from their season target and the pride of keeping their heads above water, the Elche dressing room rides a fine line. Players move between accepting the realities of May and clinging to a glimmer of possibility, provided the numbers still tilt in their favor.
To navigate this stretch, the team leans on the practical, almost ritual approach known in these parts as the “match-match” method. A strategy popularized here a decade ago by Fran Escribá and reinforced in public discussions by Diego Pablo Simeone. The Franjiverdes understand there is little time to waste, and even updating the league table on a phone screen feels secondary to the daily grind of earning points.
Elche wakes up late
JA Galvanized
To be honest, the players don’t measure themselves in the standings when they gather in the locker room. If they did, the pressure would be unbearable, said Tete Morente, the author of the goal that earned a point against Valladolid on the weekend. “We focus on adding a result in every game and see how far we can go,” the Andalusian winger explained, playing a pivotal role in Elche’s fight in the late stages of the season against Pucelanos.
“After the win at Mallorca, the mindset shifted. We adapted quickly, gave our best in the second half, and earned the draw. The table, at that moment, said very little,” Morente added. He emphasized how the coach’s confidence has helped him settle into a new role. “I train hard, stay focused, and aim to maintain last year’s level. I want to keep contributing in this way to help the team,” he said, noting that his role has evolved, even if it meant coming off the bench more often recently.
The goal came too soon
Larin’s early strike stands out as one of the rough moments when evaluating the Valladolid draw from Elche’s perspective. “We have strengthened defensively of late, and we adjusted quickly again. The critical thing is that the team keeps fighting until the final whistle,” Morente commented.
“That first sequence was unusual; they started stronger and scored very early. We must improve this because it’s happened in several games, and it’s hard to rebound from,” Morente continued. In the second half, with a sense of discipline and ambition, a victory felt within reach. They were close to winning. “We must stay with that momentum and keep working,” Raul Guti noted. The midfielder returned late, contributing two goals in the 98th and 103rd minutes, underscoring the team’s stubborn pursuit of an outcome that would alter their trajectory.
Machín: “Elche took a shot at goal 25 and Valladolid”
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“The most important thing for us is unity. We understand how tough this situation is, and we will keep moving forward no matter what,” he stated. Where there is life, there is hope. The team stays realistic but refuses to stop dreaming. They intend to attack every game with the aim of converting as many chances as possible until the season ends, Guti added, speaking with the resolve that characterizes a team refusing to concede.
Lisandro Magallán, returning to the starting XI after a controversial dismissal against Betis, faced the slate of outcomes with tempered optimism. The Argentine center back praised the squad’s spirit: “The team works hard. Our effort is immense. From my point of view we deserve more, and sooner or later it will come. People see this, challenge us, encourage us, and recognize our effort. Even though the point isn’t ideal, we are on the right track.”