Quintanilla: "For Racing de Ferrol this is a pivotal match, but we want to take all three points"
Álex Quintanilla has played nearly 200 matches in Segunda B and this Sunday could add a new ground to his list of stadia he's played in as Ibiza take on Racing Club Ferrol at the A Malata. "Their stadium is an historic one in this division and I am sure that it will be a tough match. Having said that, we have travelled here with the objective to compete and bring back the three points" said Ibiza's central defender in a press conference. While Quintanilla never faced Sunday's rivals before, he is well aware of "the strong support Ferrol enjoy from and within its community".
Ferrol's season so far can be described as a rather inconsistent campaign. Nevertheless, Quintanilla is not one for reading too much into statistics and trends and therefore does not take Ferrol lightly. He knows that Emilio Larraz' side will present Ibiza with a big challenge: "Racing is a team that is attempting to change its run of form and last week was a step into that direction for them. Sunday's match is a pivotal one for them as they attempt to climb up the ladder and create a gap between themselves and the drop zone".
Ibiza has the best stats for an away team in group 1 and is among the four top teams on the road in all of Segunda B. Quintanilla is convinced that his side's strong form away from home can continue if the squad is able to replicate its form when playing at home at Can Misses. "One of our strongpoints is that we know how to adapt ourselves to different circumstances and conditions. Playing away from home really allows you to define a team's character and that's what we've been able to achieve so far this season with strong performances to date. That being said, there are many matches to go still and we must continue along the same path by staying true to our basic ideas".
This week, Ibiza has set up a mini camp in the Coruña region. Today, Pablo Alfaro's squad trained at Deportivo La Coruña's Abegondo training hub before taking to the training pitch at Arteixo tomorrow and Saturday. The camp not only serves to prepare Sunday's match, but it also is an ideal couple of days to consolidate and develop the group dynamics with new incorporations Pierre Cornud and Borja Martínez. "Being able to train on natural grass is a great way to prepare for Sunday's match and it will serve us well" believes Quintanilla. Round 25 could not be approached in a better way, then, with the team's spirits high and buoyant after last weekend's win against Coruxo.