With the Clásico Tapatío just around the corner, Guadalajara continues to focus and work at its best to arrive in top condition for the first Play In match. Aware of the importance of the match, Rubén González and Ricardo Marín spoke at a press conference, where they took the opportunity to highlight the unity of the group and the strength of the squad to face this type of match in any situation.
Here are the highlights of the statements made by the Rebaño Sagrado's players
Rubén González
"We would have liked to be in the top six, but it wasn't like that. We have the commitment and responsibility to play these matches as if they were Liguilla matches. We want to advance and we have to play our best".
"It's always good to have the whole squad. In the end, it's the matches that take you; the quality of the squad generates internal competition and the certainty that the 11 players on the field will go all out."
"Chivas must always be fighting for titles, fighting at the top. Now it's time for the Play In with Atlas, it's the next match and we have to face it as such".
"Our Liguilla starts right now if we want to continue advancing. We are serious enough to understand that it's a one-game playoff.
"You can expect us to deliver, that's what's fundamental and what we have to do".
"Losing in the Regular Phase was a very hard blow; we were able to recover despite the disadvantage. Now we know the importance of the phase we are in. If we want to go for the objective, we will have to be smart in the match."
"The demand among us, the internal competition will be key. We are at home, the people motivate us and it is up to us to prove that we want to be in the next phase."
"Having the confidence of my teammates and the coach makes me better".
Ricardo Marín
"I do consider it as a personal revenge. I ended up a little frustrated with how it went and we know that we have a golden opportunity to reverse that."
"I'm very well physically. The FIFA break helped us to recover our players; although we know that we had an up and down tournament, it's up to us to work in the best way possible to achieve our qualification.
"Scoring a goal in a Clasico has a special feeling, fortunately I have scored in both of them".
"We know we didn't close in the best way, but the team came together. We are aware that on Thursday we have a great opportunity to show what we are made of and that the people will be there to support us."
"It's incredible the internal competition in the team so that everyone gets the best out of themselves. Whoever gets his turn will do it in the best way and those of us on the bench will go out with the same mentality when it's our turn to be there."
"The team kept competing despite everything. It is very important that now we have a full squad and we will be able to look for the match. We have to win on Thursday and from there focus on the game ahead."
"We all want to go out to play and convince the people, but these games have to be won. It's a direct elimination game with the flavor of a Clasico Tapatio."
"That celebration of 'Bofo' came about because during the week I got videos and in the match it occurred to me to do it, it was very meaningful. Hopefully this Thursday I'll be able to score".
"I said it since I arrived: this team has to be at the top fighting for titles. Despite the irregular tournament we had, the team was always united, in the same line, and what we have to look for is to overcome this Play In to be in Liguilla."
"It is very important that 'Piojo' is with us. This break came in handy so he can recover from his injury, as well as the other players we had out."
