Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez has stressed that his team must shift their focus from dreaming about the Conference League to the reality of their semi-final clash with Strasbourg. Perez acknowledged the magnitude of the game, calling it one of the most significant in the club’s history, and expressed confidence in his squad’s preparedness.
He confirmed that Luiz Felipe and Alvaro Garcia would be unavailable due to injury, but that goalkeeper Augusto Batalla was fit to play. Perez also chose not to comment on the severe ban imposed on Isi Palazon. When asked for a prediction, mirroring a previous lighthearted remark about a 3-0 win before their quarter-final home leg against AEK Athens, Perez responded:
“I’m not sure what the result will be (laughs). We had to take advantage of playing the first leg at home; if they let you strike first, you have to capitalize on it. In the quarterfinals, we suffered a heavy blow from them, but tomorrow the mentality has to be the same. They’ve also learned from their experience; they struggled in Mainz. All of us who will be playing in the semifinals have experienced something similar.”
‘We’re not nervous, we’re comfortable in Vallecas’
Given the significance of the occasion, particularly for a squad largely experiencing European competition for the first time, any potential nerves were downplayed by Perez.
“I’m not nervous. We’ve been training together, there’s no reason to be nervous. Maybe a little fear, but it’s a positive thing. It’s not nerves, that’s when you’re not prepared and you’ve achieved something that doesn’t belong to you. There’s a sense of urgency for the hours to pass so that everything can begin. We feel comfortable in Vallecas.”
When some are labeling the game as the biggest in the club’s history, Perez offered his perspective:
“Labels are subjective. For me, it might be the most important match, but for someone else, it could be the promotion. Tomorrow is crucial and will be remembered in the club’s history. My speeches always go in the same direction. It’s football and you have to express your mentality. Even if we win convincingly tomorrow, the game will be decided in Strasbourg. The mental aspect is 99% of the battle.”
“I watched the club’s video about this match and it made me think about the message I’ve been giving, the one about ‘we play to create memories’. Whatever happens will be remembered. Continuing to dream belongs to what happens in the future. Tomorrow, the most important thing is to play, to live, to be, to exist… The best mindset is to stop dreaming, because it’s reality. It’s the best way to prepare for this.”
‘There’s a social aspect that sets us apart from the rest’ – Inigo Perez
Rayo Vallecano stands out as a unique entity among the semi-finalists, particularly in terms of their scale compared to other clubs participating in European competitions.
“We are very different. You can feel it in the neighbourhood. Then there’s the political aspect, and I’m no-one to be giving political speeches. There’s a social side that sets us apart from the rest, and we want what people feel or what they create to be reflected on the pitch. Since I’ve been at Rayo, when I go to and from the tunnel, I feel things I’ve never felt before.”
Rayo Not Contemplating Possibility of Relegation
Strasbourg is recognized as one of the tournament’s surprise packages, and Gary O’Neil manages a squad rich in young talent, a consequence of their ownership by BlueCo, which also owns Chelsea.
“We’ve studied Strasbourg; they’re quite young and have a lot of talent, as their very attacking style of football shows. We must maintain our identity and hopefully we’ll be the winners of the match.”
“The semifinals practically play themselves. In the round of 16 and quarterfinals, the coach needs to be more involved to understand their importance. It’s going to be a tough match between two teams that are eager for a final. They’re younger, we’re more experienced, and a final would be the perfect ending to our history.”
The hypothetical scenario being discussed in Vallecas is whether Rayo would accept relegation in exchange for a European victory.
“I’m not considering it. I’d rather lose a final than be relegated, which causes a pain that’s hard to overcome. I understand Rayo’s fans. If I were a fan, like Sergio (Camello) says, I’d be fully behind the Hypermotion team, especially with a Conference title in the trophy cabinet,” Perez explained.
Rayo is scheduled to play on Thursday night at 21:00 CEST in Vallecas, with the return leg taking place at the same time the following week at the Stade de la Meinau.