It is pointless to ignore what lies ahead, to shut your eyes, or to hide. Tomorrow, Hercules, under Lolo Escobar, faces a crucial test as the Alicante group reveals how much it has transformed since Ángel Rodríguez’s replacement. The Valencian subsidiary has unloaded its blue and white flaws in the first round, and now, before entering the decisive phase, the question is whether the team has corrected course or not.
The Extremadura coach is keenly aware of the stakes, and he says his players feel it too. “We reminded the locker room of that match to ignite the team’s pride. The setback we endured in the bathroom that day matters; it should fuel our resolve. Our main aim is not to repeat that performance. We must make this a fair fight, raise the challenge for them, and make the game harder than it was then,” Escobar explained, just before Valencia-Mestalla.
“We reminded the locker room of that match in Paterna to appeal to the team’s pride”
The group is driven by the coach Miguel Angel Angulo, a physical presence in attack who leads the charge. “Facing an opponent that demands precise execution, we cannot rely on unity alone. We have to press, force them to defend, create danger, and push them to respect the tempo we set. It’s crucial not to let them settle into their favored rhythm; we must dictate how the match unfolds,” Escobar said, noting several ways to exploit openings when they cannot control the ball’s flow.
“It is not enough to be united; we must press, create danger, and disrupt their rhythm”
“Yes, staying compact is essential, but success with the ball matters too. More importantly, we must prevent them from playing at their cruising speed,” the Extremadura coach insisted. He also reflected on recent outings at José Rico Pérez, hoping to improve the image shown in those games, especially the clash against the league leaders Teruel, acknowledging that the display was the worst since his arrival as the team’s form dipped and they were outmatched in almost every facet.
Despite recognizing the transcendent nature of Sunday’s encounter and the high stakes involved, Escobar emphasized the need to maintain intensity in the conversation with his players. He urged calm: “No one can guarantee we will reach the playoffs if we win, or that we will be out if we lose.”
“We want to beat them because in a week we enter the real matches of the last ten days”
“We want to win because we step into the real games in the coming week. The final ten days will test the legs, and yes or yes, you must push forward. I told Luis Aragones, the coach of coaches, and he was absolutely right. A lot has happened in the last ten games,” the man from Badajoz noted.
Mestalla has won seven times at home and dropped only twice in twelve visits. Statistically, it is the best away team in the group, leaving the field with 24 points. It is among the league’s top scorers (37) while conceding relatively few (15). Their nine-point cushion over Hercules highlights the challenge awaiting them in the blue and white stadium on Sunday morning (12:00).
Miguel Ángel Angulo confident about a win in Alicante
“My team understands the weight and difficulty of this derby within the Valencian Community. We arrive eager to deliver a strong performance, earn the three points, and build momentum,” says Valencia’s subsidiary coach. “We are seeking stability in our home and away schedule. We want to grow more consistent at home, cultivating a solid lineup that inspires confidence and peace of mind because we clearly know the path we intend to follow.” Angulo, who later tasted his first taste of top-flight competition in this context, reflected on Valencia’s 0-3 victory over Hercules in a King’s Cup clash on October 8, 1997, a result that echoed in discussions about promotion that season.