Yoel: The Valencia game will be a tough one, they'll be keen to put in a good performance in front of their fans

SD Eibar goalkeeper Yoel Rodríguez, who this Saturday makes a return to Valencia CF - where he is under contract until 2018 -, today spoke to the media at the Armeros' Atxabalpe training ground ahead of Eibar's visit to Mestalla and he insisted that "it'll be a tough game" against a side that will be keen to "put in a good performance in front their fans".

Yoel is on loan at Ipurua for the season, although the Armeros are currently involved in negotiations with Valencia to secure the shotstopper's services on a permanent basis, as revealed yesterday by Eibar's director of football, Fran Garagarza.

"It's always a good thing whenever the club where you're out on loan is interested in buying you, it shows that I must be doing a good enough job and that is something that pleases me. I'm happy here and I feel right at home", stated the 28-year-old goalkeeper.

In Yoel's eyes, the Valencia game will be "tough, there'll be battles all over the pitch and let's hope that we manage to bring the three points back with us".

"It'll be a game in which there's sure to be plenty of chances at both ends. They'll come out and try to get an early goal. We hope to be able to counter that and then take the chances that we make".

"Valencia are a big club and they've got some great players. The team is going through a bit of a slump and I believe that, with the players that they've got, they'll get their season going sooner or later. They're having a tough time of things right now, but they'll get through it".

In reference to Eibar's playing style, Yoel underlined that, "the most important thing is that, regardless of the personnel, the team still plays in the same way". "We always set up in the same way and things aren't going to be any different in this game. Sometimes things work out for you, other times they don't, some days you create more chances than others and sometimes you win, whilst on other occasions you lose. Our playing style always remains the same and that'll once again be the case in this game".

When quizzed about the fine season that Eibar are enjoying, which has seen the team amass 29 points with the second half of the campaign just having got underway, the Armeros' loanee commented: "The important thing is that we achieve our target and we'll then take stock and see whether we can look up the league or whether we have to look over our shoulders". "We're looking to secure our survival as soon as possible, so that we're not unsure of our destiny right until the end of the season. We're in a comfortable position, but the sooner we guarantee our safety, the more relaxed we'll be".