Mendilibar: It's important we win to cement our place in the mid-to-upper reaches of the table
The SD Eibar boss has named a 19-man squad for the Deportivo clash
SD Eibar coach José Luis Mendilibar today stressed that it is important that his side claims victory in tomorrow's encounter with Deportivo La Coruña (Ipurua, 18:30h) in order to "cement our place in the mid-to-upper reaches of the table".
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Mendilibar revealed his squad list, in which the injured Aiser Riesgo, Iván Ramis, David Juncà and Kike García all miss out, as does the suspended Gonzalo Escalante.
The squad list, which features 19 players - in view of the question marks surrounding the fitness of Fran Rico - is as follows: Yoel, Areitio; Capa, Arbilla, Dos Santos, Lejeune, Gálvez, Luna, Dani García, Adrián, Rivera, Fran Rico, Sarriegi, Pedro León, Inui, Bebé, Rubén Peña, Enrich and Nano.
"We've got some injuries and we were in action on Wednesday night, but I believe that we're capable of competing and our focus is now on the second half of the campaign. It's an important game because Dépor are gradually improving and they're a team that are competing at the same level as us. Our idea is to have a good second half of the season and if we're able to get things up and running with a win, then all the better. If we get the three points we'd increase the advantage we have over them and the sides down at the bottom".
"We know that it'll be a tough game. They've brought some players in and have been getting better over the course of the season and are competing well. They had a bit of a poor start to the campaign, in which they struggled to win games, but they've managed to slowly but surely change that and are now playing with greater confidence. They're a tough, solid and established side and they'll be pleased with how they're doing".
When quizzed about the fact that the Armeros are yet to have tasted victory against Deportivo in La Liga, Mendilibar quipped: "That means that we're ever closer to beating them then". "I hope that win comes tomorrow, we're aware that it'll be tough and that there's a lot at stake for both teams".
In reference to the return of former Eibar boss, Gaizka Garitano, to Ipurua, he stated that, "the fact that we're here today is all because they got the team promoted". "Gaizka took over when the club was in Segunda B and guided the team to Primera. They did some very good things here, people remember them well and I think that they can expect to receive a warm reception".