Andoni Iraola, Rayo Vallecano coach, announced that Raúl De Tomás will not be available to play against Sporting de Gijón in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey due to a knee injury, but assured that he will “join soon and back with the group”.
Raúl De Tomás, who returned to Rayo in September, can now be registered to play in the official competition, although a knee injury will prolong his return by a few days.
“He won’t play tomorrow because of a medical issue. He has patellar discomfort. He’s not comfortable. Tests tell us it won’t last long. Since the friendly against Newcastle he’s been training outside the group. Tomorrow he won’t he will be on the list. He will soon be integrated into the group dynamics, but for now we cannot count on him,” Iraola said in a press conference.
Rayo will face the Cup round of 16 clash against Sporting, a rival in the Second Division, with optimism, although also with caution.
“We face it with great enthusiasm. We know the difficulty of this pairing. It is a Second team, but we know the players well because we faced many of them not so long ago. They have a very high level. Last year, in this In the same round, they beat Villarreal. With the help of people who struggle, they will try to leave us,” he said.
“The game is at fifty percent. They have players like Grajera, Pedro Díaz, Otero, Cote or Jony who are important. If we want to go through, we have to give a high level. Whoever plays, must have a high performance” , admitted the Basque coach, who does not underestimate Sporting’s potential despite the fact that they cannot count on Serbian striker Uros Djurdjevic.
“He is a very good Second Division player. He could surely be in a higher category. Sporting has very good alternatives. Their squad does not depend on one or two players. I hope Djuka will affect them, although there are those who can be replaced. He is very good ,” he says.
Finally, Iraola acknowledged the enthusiasm that exists in Rayo in the Copa del Rey, a competition in which they reached the semifinals last year.
“Last year we had a very positive experience. We found ourselves close to playing in a final and that shows you that there is a prize. Tomorrow’s tie is at fifty percent and we have to move forward. The type of game is different than in the League. You have to take risks, face a possible extension or penalty. The team competes well, but here one error leaves you. This is a competition we like”, he concluded.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
