‘Eibar can’t give up’

Jose Luis Mendilibar doesn’t want Eibar to switch off for the final five games of the season even though they’ve avoided relegation.

The Basques go to Valencia on Wednesday having sealed safety with a 2-1 win over local rivals Real Sociedad at the weekend, but the Coach told a Press conference his team ‘still have a lot to play for.’

“Although staying in the Primera isn’t at stake now, we’re playing so we don’t damage the season. In the five games that are left, what we can do is stay where we are, not lower our position, compete, and not drop our arms thinking everything is already done,” Mendilibar insisted, AS reports.

“The team’s position, to be as high as possible, is at stake, and to finish the season well individually. Nobody wants to give a bad image in the last games. If we’d had a second round of the season like the first we’d be fighting with Villarreal.

“Valencia are a team in our League, although they are bigger than us and have good players. They’re a good team, but we’ll have chances to win. Beating Barcelona gives them mental strength, they’re in a good dynamic. I guess we’ll tighten up, with the lines together. We have to compete.

“They’re not designed to be a mid-table team but neck-and-neck with the top three. Their campaign was complicated [by the Champions League] and it’s not easy to compete Wednesday and Sunday.”

Tags Jose Luis Mendilibar
La Liga - Club News