The Xàtiva team is preparing for a new league commitment at a decisive point in the season. Coach José Manuel Rueda stated that the team arrives with good feelings after the week's training sessions, emphasizing the players' eagerness.
However, the team will face the match with several significant absences. Rueda confirmed the suspensions of Nico Cabanes and Héctor, in addition to Emilio's absence due to personal reasons. The current squad has 18 players, and the coach does not rule out including some youth players to complete the roster.
“"We have to think that this is another last bullet we have this weekend; if we win, we still have options, and if we don't win, depending on what happens, we will practically have almost no options."
Despite Independiente de Alicante's mid-table position, Rueda warned that this situation can be misleading and recalled that the first-round precedent, a 0-3 victory for Xàtiva, does not guarantee an easy match. He stressed that the context of the game at La Murta will be different from the one played in Alicante, and he urged his team to avoid a slow pace of play.
The coach insisted on the importance of maintaining maximum attention and not underestimating the opponent, as every match is a 'final' at this stage of the season. He concluded that this weekend's result will be crucial for the team's aspirations.
