Kiko Ramírez: «This dressing room deserved a win like this»
Kiko Ramírez spoke in the Estadio Pinilla press room after the 1-0 win over AD Alcorcón, CD Teruel's first of the season, on matchday seven of the Primera Federación. The Rojillo coach was proud of his players' sacrifice, acknowledged the quality of the opponent and already turned his attention to the trip to Villarreal B.
The coach opened with a smile: «As if I had played myself, more tired, but proud, happy and joyful, because this dressing room deserved a win like this». Kiko Ramírez acknowledged how tough the match was: «For me, in terms of both players and football, Alcorcón are, as of today, the best team in the group of those we have faced, so it is all the more meritorious». He was honest in admitting that the opponent did enough for more, but highlighted the magic of football: «By surviving you can get three points that are so hard to come by. These ones are not leaving here. I will keep the joy, the faces in the dressing room: after suffering, enjoying it».
The coach had words for Amador Zarco, the star of the night with his saves: «He is a lad who is working very well», he said, and highlighted the competition for the goalkeeping spot, which also raises the level of the group: «We can be calm, because we have a second goalkeeper like Palop, who is very reliable». Asked whether the win brings calm or motivation, he did not hesitate: «Motivation».
Kiko Ramírez praised the team's capacity for sacrifice: «We have suffered and we are going to keep suffering in every match. That is the only way we can get results, and they know it». He also highlighted the contribution of the substitutes, who on this occasion «added something», and explained how hard it is to come into such intense matches. He paid tribute to the players who are not playing regularly: «They are pushing and making sure that those who play cannot fall asleep. That is the competitiveness Teruel needs».
On the goal, the coach explained that during the week they worked on a mid and low block against an opponent that gets a lot of players into the box, with the counter-attack as their main weapon: «And the goal came from a counter-attack: a cross from Edu and a goal from the left-back. Long live football!». He added that he was pleased that one of the week's messages was understood on the pitch and delivered «three huge points».
The coach closed by looking ahead to the next game, the trip to Villarreal B. «The reserve sides in this group are like jets, they are players with a huge future. It is going to be a very difficult match, in which we will have to suffer like today or even more, but we are going to fight for it», he said. And he summed up the team's identity: «I think people saw Teruel's DNA today. We are in a context where we play against big teams with big budgets, and we are standing up to them. We have to keep going like this and keep working».
