Alavesa faces survival battle: flores dismisses final status

The pressure is tightening around Alavés as they prepare to host Mallorca in a crucial relegation clash, but coach Quique Sánchez Flores is refusing to frame the game as a ‘final’ – a deliberate tactic to keep his squad focused.

A six-game sprint to salvation

Six vital fixtures remain, and crucially, several of them offer Alavés a chance to play at Mendizorrozía, their fortress. Flores’ insistence on treating each match as paramount, a strategy rooted in the unpredictable nature of La Liga’s lower echelons last season, is a calculated gamble. ‘I don’t want to categorize the Mallorca game as a final,’ he stated bluntly. ‘It’s no different from the remaining matches.’

The race for survival has become a brutal scramble, with just 18 points separating the European places from the drop zone. Sánchez Flores acknowledges the urgency: ‘The classification has tightened, and it could have happened. In the first round, I realised that everything was possible from tenth to last place. We need to pay attention to each game and face the next as the most important.’

He stressed the need for unwavering optimism within the squad, dismissing any anxieties about past results. ‘Now more than ever, we have to transmit tranquility. We can’t worry about something that hasn’t happened. There are 18 points left, and we depend on ourselves. We know that if we win tomorrow, the situation will be different.’

The team, accustomed to battling relegation in recent years, must channel its energy and mental focus into this immediate challenge. ‘This team is used to living with these types of situations,’ Flores confirmed. ‘We need to put all our energy and mind on tomorrow’s game. We are standing, competing well, but we’re not satisfied unless we’re winning.’

Mendizorrozía: a stadium advantage

The atmosphere at Mendizorrozía is a known quantity – a potent, almost tangible force. ‘We know that whenever the team has been committed, we’ve always had a player more than just a player, and that’s the fans,’ he explained. ‘We need their support, an extra surge of energy.’

However, logistical realities present a minor hurdle. ‘Protesoni won’t be available,’ Flores confirmed, citing ongoing recovery from a demanding midweek fixture against Real Betis. ‘We’ve focused on the physical recovery of the players after a huge effort at the Bernabéu. The training sessions from Tuesday to Saturday are now dedicated to recovery.’

The tactical setup will require careful consideration. ‘We’ll try to impose our style,’ Flores stated. ‘We’re a team that’s been getting into the box a lot. We had 19 shots at the Bernabéu, which is a huge number. The problem is going forward, we don’t have it.’ He emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean sheet, identifying it as a key objective alongside attacking prowess. ‘Taking care of the clean sheets is one of the biggest goals, without stopping to attack.’

Interestingly, Sánchez Flores is experimenting with a 3-3-4 formation, utilizing his full-backs as central defenders. ‘They are understanding it well and improving their coordination,’ he noted. ‘Pacheco is a great player, with a lot of experience, but it’s true that in the games he played, we conceded many goals. Koski is another young player who has opportunities.’

Mallorca, meanwhile, arrives with a determined spirit. ‘They’re a team that comes with a lot of energy,’ Flores observed. ‘Emotionally, they’re strong. They play with a 4-4-2 in a diamond formation, and they have a fresh approach to the game.’

Ultimately, Alavés’ fate rests on their own performance. A victory tomorrow isn't a guarantee, but it’s a crucial step towards a more secure future. It’s a battle for survival, and one they intend to fight with every fibre of their being.