Jagoba Arrasate spoke to the media ahead of our trip to RCD Espanyol this Saturday afternoon. Find out what he had to say below:
On the start: I don't know if surprise is the word. I am pleased that the team is working, but they are symptoms and not certainties yet. Little time has passed and to draw definitive conclusions we still have to let time pass and keep playing these matches.
On the team: It is fine. We have had a clean week to train and recover. The team is very excited, as are the people, knowing that we have to keep doing things well to have a chance of winning.
On Valjent and injured players: He wanted to be there and I am grateful for his willingness because he can give us a hand, depending on how the team is doing. I hope to recover the injured players after the break because I see them getting better every day.
On Javi Llabrés: The doubt was to include Martin or him in the call-up. Javi has played all week and that's great news, but he lacks competition rhythm. Martin, without being at 100% and having two central defenders available, can give us a hand depending on how the game is. It was more for that reason than anything else. I hope that after the break we will have everyone available.
On the good feeling: There is no euphoria, but excitement. Selling excitement is dangerous, but generating it is wonderful. Football is the driving force for many people and that's why tomorrow we will have a lot of people cheering us on.
On improvements: We are doing things well, but we have room for improvement in everything: with the ball, without the ball, giving continuity to the moments with the ball? And we have to insist on that to improve every day.
On Sergi Darder and his return to RCD Espanyol: Sometimes it is better to give normality to things and not give it more importance than it has. He is a Perico and will be for the rest of his life. I think he was at a great level there. Now he is doing well, he is confident and tomorrow I am convinced that he will try to play a good game to help Mallorca win. I don't know if he will be greeted with whistles, but he is not the Sergi of a few years ago. He is a more mature player and he handles these things better.
On RCD Espanyol: I liked them at the beginning. The calendar also plays an important role in the results they have had. They have had to go to Cívitas, Bernabéu, Villamarín; they have played against Real and Villarreal.... They are a very competitive team, they have clear ideas, they come from the inertia of promotion, they have signed well.... They are a difficult team for everyone. We have to play a better match than against Valladolid to have a chance.
On Pablo Maffeo: Sometimes you just have to listen. At that moment, the first thing I did was to listen and give him affection, and from there, I made him see where he had to go. With the help of professionals, his teammates, the coaching staff and himself, who was the first to want to change, he is now on a different stage. I am not only talking about performance, but that he comes happy to train, and wants to be and do great things for Mallorca. The group, in that aspect, is 'chapeau'. If someone has any difficulty here, the group supports him.
On recoveries of Vedat Muriqi and others: Today he has done more things, like Taku [Asano] and Siebe [Van der Heyden]. We can use these two weeks to get them ready for the Lightning.
On Cyle Larin: The head plays a very important role and in Cyle's case, he's playing and in the position he likes and he's had three good games. We have given him that confidence, his teammates believe in him, but then he is the one who has to take that step and he has taken it. When we see this Larin, the winner is Mallorca. He finished freeing himself with the goal against Valladolid, but tomorrow there is another game and we need the best Larin.
On other players deserving to play for their national teams: I don't waste time on that. We have to respect the decisions made by the coach, who is doing things well. I am aware of those who are called up because you have to keep your ears to the ground. Robert Navarro goes with the U-21 and those who are internationals for other countries. I don't think about it and it doesn't keep me awake at night.
On being without Muriqi: What we have to think about is that when Muriqi is there, we have to create an ecosystem so that he can shine because he gives us a lot, and when he is not there, we can do other things as well. We are all aware that the opponent doesn't want to have Muriqi in front of them and my job is to get the best out of everyone and get the game plan right.
On recovering from defeat when it comes: It will come, but right now we are in a good moment, both in terms of spirit and football. The team knows that to win it has to do a lot of things right. We are not used to normalizing victories, we know how hard it is. Tomorrow we have to respect Espanyol, be as hungry as they are and from there, play our football. The team is aware of that.