Iván Alejo: We're going to try and keep the run going for as long as possible
The Armeros' midfielder insisted that Atlético Madrid will be aware that "this is a tough place to come to"
Speaking today to the press gathered at Atxabalpe, SD Eibar winger Iván Alejo declared that the team are looking to "keep this run going for as long as possible", whilst suggesting that the side's next opponents, Atlético Madrid, will know all too well that "this is a really tough place for visiting teams to come to".
Since returning to the side after picking up an injury in the trip to Sevilla back in September, Eibar have picked up 19 points from a possible 21. "It has coincided with my return, but that's nothing more than a coincidence. We're all performing extremely well and will be trying to keep the run going on Saturday".
"I've never been involved in a run of form like this and it's possible that I'll never experience another one like it again. We're going to try and keep it going for as long as possible. We know that it'll come to an end one day, but we're just really excited for things to continue as they are".
"We're under less pressure than we were two months ago. Everyone's happy at the moment. You can see that all of the players are playing really well. The day the run comes to an end is when we'll look back and really appreciate just what we've achieved. Everyone is talking about us right now, but we mustn't go taking our eye off the ball".
Alejo admitted that Saturday's game will be "a special one" for him, given that he'll be coming up against a club where he spent four years as a youth player, during which time he featured in two pre-season campaigns under Diego Simeone. "When the whistle blows the friendships and old rivalries go out the window, but when the game ends I'll give them all a hug".
"They won't make our lives easy and the same goes for us. They'll know that this is a tough place to come to, that we're in really good form and that everything is going for us at the moment. We're on a good run and will be trying to keep it going. They're a great side and have proved that for a number of years now. Ipurua is a fortress for us and we'll be trying to make the most of that".
Commenting on the fact that Eibar have failed to put any points on the board in their meetings with Atlético Madrid since achieving promotion to the top flight, Alejo insisted that "statistics are there to be broken". "We'll be going all out to bring an end to that run of results against Atlético Madrid. They're in good form, but so too are we.
Despite being well-placed in the league standings, the Armeros' wide man stressed that "we're on 27 points and need another 13 to achieve our target. If you'd have told us at the start of the season that we'd be sitting where we are now, we'd have taken it. As soon as we secure our safety, we'll be looking to then go on and achieve as much as possible".