“We want to make Santo Domingo a ‘House of Horrors’ for the rival”

Living at the bottom of the LaLiga Hypermotion classification is not easy. Compete, play and, above all, win. Expenses. And he knows a lot about all that. Mehdi Nafti (Toulouse, 1978) practicing in Alcorcon since last December and he was chosen by the potter club to achieve permanent in the Second Division. It’s on the way. And he was kind enough to attend Mundo Deportivo in the run-up to the duel against Espanyol this Sunday.

He hopes – he says it out loud while standing in front of the camera – that the weather forecasts of rain and wind for the match do not come true. “The wind is the worst,” he said.

First of all, how is the team after the defeat at Elche?

“After a defeat, the team always looks forward to the next game as soon as possible. The boys work well and have enthusiasm and enthusiasm.”

What happened to Elche? There is a lot of talk about the system, about the attitude in the first minutes…

“We reached a conclusion between us. It is a very good rival and from there we analyze why. We have to correct things when we face teams of that level: Elche, Leganés, or the one coming this Sunday , Spanish. We cannot leave too many facilities in certain areas of the field”

The calendar is getting complicated. Is that more of a challenge or a task for a team fighting for permanence?

“We have to understand that the budgets and the classification are there for something, obviously. Also that they are a better team than us but never, ever, accept defeat. Hate it. And do everything possible to make it difficult for the rival and that. in both way who is better than you.”

There is talk of pressure to go up, but what is pressure not to go down?

“It’s not pressure. When you’re in relegation most of the season it’s not pressure. It’s a challenge that we have to face positively, always see the bottle half full and try to get closer, competing, to what we have done well against good teams like Albacete, Eibar at home and minimize the characteristics of the rival.

And are many calculations made for safety?

Not allowed. In the end one day you will be out of relegation, another you will be in and we don’t have time for those emotional ups and downs of “one weekend we are saved, the next we are already relegated.” Our goal is to try to score as many points as possible between now and the end of the season and prepare every game as if it were a final.”

I was wondering if anyone has any idea where that permanent is. At 45, at 50 points…

“We in the locker room always say this: we have to get to the last day alive.”

Does permanence pass through your stadium, through Santo Domingo?

“Yes, it is true that the team competes at home. We want to make Santo Domingo the house of horror for the rival”

They feel strongly at home…

“Yes, because the environment of Santo Domingo corresponds to me. I identify with my way of seeing life, with my way of being with that public and with that stadium.”

Looking forward to the match against the Spanish. How did they do it?

“Espanyol is a ‘top’ team in the category. It has weaknesses that we have worked on and we will also try to make sure that its virtues do not stand out too much. We will face it with all the respect of the world but knowing the need that is needed let’s score.”

You’re a team that seems more comfortable waiting for the opponent to retreat, is that true?

“More than the system, what we have to consider is the philosophy. This is what made us strong at home, that stony block and we have to restore it.”

And about Spanish, what would you highlight?

“It is a team that has a lot of talent, that has a capacity to finish inside the area that is outrageous. There are Braithwaite, Puado, Pere Milla, Jofre on the outside… They have a lot of width in their lanes . and the capacity for associative play. It’s a pretty complete team but, as I say, it also has its weaknesses.

Where do you see him at the end of time?

“Up”.

And you?

“Saved.”

But at the last minute of the last day?

“Yes, yes. That we have options in the last game. I have heard press conferences, in previous seasons, that I don’t know if this is a way to motivate their teams but they said that they will save for sure, there are 10-15 games left. “But I won’t sell that speech. My goal is to reach the last day alive.”

It says a lot about you. Not selling smoke

“Yes, of course. We know where we are. It’s not just me. My players know where they are, our public is suffering with us and knows where we are. We know our limitations. And we know all the that, we create strength for ourselves.”