His voice quivered slightly as he delivered a lengthy 90-minute briefing, Lolo Escobar stepping forward after conceding the first goal with a harsh reminder of the offside drill. He sat in the press room, calm about the result and hopeful for the path ahead, watching the initial response from his new squad. He had trusted in the blueprint from the start, and though the goal came as a heavy blow, he and his team rose quickly, ready to learn and move on. The Extremadura coach articulated that that kind of resilience should be the standard and not be an exception, no matter the circumstance.
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The players carried themselves with a positive attitude, a quality Escobar noted as consistently visible. After a loss, the team pressed high to win the ball back and quickly regain possession. When success followed that effort, it brought a sense of security and momentum, something the former Mirandés coach highlighted as essential to their trajectory.
Escobar avoided singling out any one person for victories or defeats, yet he acknowledged that several players were performing exceptionally well even if their competitive rhythm had not yet fully returned. He pointed to John Paul as having made an impressive start on the attacking line, while Dani Marine reclaimed his place in the central defense beside Dylan Leiva, reinforcing the spine of the team.
“Local players should be given the opportunity to demonstrate, but they also need to know how to take advantage of it”
Escobar stressed that local talents deserve chances to shine, and they must seize those moments to prove their worth. He expressed satisfaction with the performances of the under-23 players and emphasized that a victory was not merely a meal but a crucial boost for confidence. The road ahead remains long, and the club intends to keep pushing forward with renewed determination, not allowing recent difficulties to define the season. The Hercules squad, well aware of past struggles, remains focused on continuous improvement and resilience as they move through the campaign.
Escobar described the process as building from the ground up. He selected what he considered the best eleven for the four days he had with the group, making clear that the choice was about immediate merit rather than reputations. He warned that the approach would stay consistent: results matter, but so does the development of players who can contribute in the long run. The coach arrived in Alicante with a transparent plan, one driven by a desire to ignite a swift and tangible impact on the club’s performance. He believes the team can awaken from a long slumber, and once they connect with the supporters, the possibilities will expand. The aim is to move forward together, with a sense of purpose and unity that can propel them to whatever horizons lie ahead.