Javier Aguirre says our hosting of Granada CF on Saturday afternoon could be a season-defining fixture.
We could put some distance between us and a direct relegation rival with a win at the Visit Mallorca Estadi as the season reaches its climax, and the boss is under no illusion everyone will need to be at their best come matchday – including the fans.
“I see it as an intense match,” he told media at his pre-match press conference. “It's a final, a match against a direct rival. It's a match that could decide the rest of the league.
"The fans expect it. No matter what happens, there will still be a league game, but it is a very important match. Player no.12 is extremely important tomorrow.”
With the visitors also having changed managers towards the end of the season, Aguirre believes the key to tomorrow’s fixture could be possession.
"Since Aitor Karanka has gone in there, Granada CF has played two games and both in different ways," he continued. "We are going to try to have the ball for longer, take the lead and the initiative in the match.
"The ideal would be to score early, but if it doesn't happen, we should at least try. Let people see that we want to win the game. I want the team to defend better than they have, because we have conceded avoidable goals."
