Joaquin Sanchez has called on owner Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani to show his face in the Malaga dressing room from time to time.
Al-Thani has withheld funding at the club since the summer, but in a month in which he is due to pay further money owed to the players in wages, he has declared that he will spend more money at the club.
“Yes he did say that, but sometimes the words are gone with the wind,” responded Joaquin in an interview with AS published today.
“We have already healed from his initial fright. He did not want to come to a game in five months. This team deserves credit for getting the public to dream again and here we see a great group of people.
“As players we ask that he is more with the team, that he comes here and is more present. Come down to the dressing room, because that contact conveys calmness and that is fundamental.”
The player was asked if he spoke to Al-Thani after the midweek win over Milan, which saw the Sheikh in the stands.
“No, because I do not speak English and he speaks zero Spanish. He was with the group, congratulated us and that simple gesture was wonderful for us, because we see that he is at least there and we can see the light, we see him as present.
“The Coach is talking to him and transmits the daily problems and the things that happen in the club.”
The former Valencia man was linked at one stage in the summer with a move to China.
“When all hell broke loose here, a group from Shanghai and the team that Didier Drogba plays for [Shanghai Shenhua] was interested, we met but I never intended to leave. I always hoped that things would be fixed here, I always look for the quality in life.
“We had it very bad in the summer. Every day was one of tremendous uncertainty. You got up in the morning and did not know what would happen. Go, not go, if you were going to get paid or not.
“The worst thing was not having a face there to tell you what was happening. But, what does not kill you makes you stronger and I think that is what happened to this team.
“Our commitment, trust and faith has been reinforced, which is what we have, a lot of faith and hard work. Now we are seeing the fruit of that belief and persistence.”
Joaquin was talking after a week in which he missed a penalty and then scored the winner against Milan.
“In the Champions League, nobody could foresee nine points from nine, zero goals against and seven in favour. We could not imagine being in that position after everything that happened.
“For me in midweek, it could have been the other way around, I could have scored first and then missed the penalty! We enjoyed very much getting the three points in the Champions League, but we suffered a lot.
“When I scored it was amazing, I even shed tears. Milan had come for a draw, the merit was ours, we got at them right away and without giving them any opportunity.
“Adriano Galliani approached me afterwards and congratulated me.
“Reaching the Champions League Final would be a perfect end to this season. Manuel tells us that we have to enjoy things and look forward with faith, knowing that we can stand up to anyone.
“For now, to see my father and embrace after the Milan game and finish the night crying like a child is something I will never forget. I tell you this now and I have the hairs on my neck standing on end again.”
