Mendilibar: Fatigue won't be an issue because I've got an honest bunch
The Eibar boss insisted that his players will "give it all they've got"
José Luis Mendilibar today declared that his squad are, "pretty much dead on their feet" after the exertions of the last few matchdays, before noting that fatigue wouldn't be an issue for his side, "because I've got honest bunch and they'll give me all they've got right until the very end".
With Iván Ramis and Pedro León returning from suspension, Mendilibar has 17 available players, whilst there's a question mark surrounding the fitness of Cristian Rivera, who yesterday suffered a reaction to a knock picked up during the game against Athletic Club. "It'll depend on how he's feeling in himself and what the tests show. If he's fit, we'll have an 18-man squad".
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's Ipurua clash against CD Leganés (18:30 kick-off), the Armeros' boss offered a reminder that in their last two outings his players have faced over an hour with 10 men after the sending-offs in both games.
"We know that this is the way things go during the course of a season, it's what this is all about and all things considered, we still managed to come away from Vitoria with a point. Right now, the players are in a better state mentally than they are physically.
"I don't know where they summon their energy from, but they'll be giving it all they've got. I'm more concerned about our opening 25 minutes against Alavés, we made a poor start and the chances they had were all gifts from us. We upped things after the sending-off but we need to be right on it from the first whistle".
When quizzed about Leganés, Mendiliabr suggested that their triumph over UD Las Palmas, "has handed them a lifeline and gives them a bigger cushion over Sporting. They'll be coming here to get something out of the game and then they've got a home game to try in which to try and secure their survival. The win over Las Palmas, which was a comfortable, will have boosted their morale".
With regards to Eibar's chances of clinching European qualification, Mendilibar stated that, "It'll be tough because the teams above us have got a lot of points on us". "We would need to win all of our remaining games and for them to slip up. We want to hold on to eighth spot, we're a point better off than Espanyol and have a better goal average. We want to collect enough points to make sure that they don't overtake us. If that then sees us catch any of the sides above us it'll be a bonus, but right now I'm not thinking about that".