Ahead of La Liga Matchday 36, Alavés host Barcelona at home. On Tuesday, Alavés head coach Quique Sánchez Flores held a pre-match press conference, addressing the upcoming clash and his team’s relegation battle.
Flores emphasized that Barcelona, despite having already secured the league title, will not relax. “We have to make as few mistakes as possible and read the game well, because we’re facing one of the strongest teams in La Liga. Barcelona will put out their strongest lineup, and we need to give 200% to deliver a memorable performance,” he said.
When asked about facing the newly crowned champions, Flores noted: “Regardless of which lineup Barcelona fields, their overall quality remains top-tier. They will stick to their tactical system and play with intensity. They will dominate possession, but we must focus on our own strengths and find ways to disrupt them.”
On whether Barcelona’s early title win benefits Alavés, and the situation of other teams like Oviedo (already relegated) and Rayo Vallecano (focusing on the Europa Conference League), the coach replied: “I can’t say for sure. Every team has its own rhythm. You can never guess their true intentions. Barcelona will aim to reach 100 points and win every game. Oviedo might want to end with a victory for their fans, and Rayo Vallecano will want to prove why they reached a European final.”
Regarding survival points, Flores said: “I don’t have an exact number. Maybe five points are enough, maybe seven. It depends on other results. Our biggest issue this season has been a lack of dominance. We need to change our approach and concede fewer goals. The tactical adjustment we made against Elche is something we’re sticking with.”
Asked if Alavés still control their own destiny, with calculations suggesting nine points would guarantee safety, Flores responded: “There are two teams in a worse position than us. If we do our job, I believe we can stay up. Our goal is to push another team below us and mathematically secure our survival.”
On the most critical match in the remaining fixtures, he stated: “Every upcoming game is crucial. None are decisive alone. We need to stay consistent, win the games we can win, and avoid being held or overturned in matches where we should take points. We must carefully plan our tactics for each match.”
Flores also discussed player morale: “I feel the team is determined. There’s no way back. We know who we are and our squad. Our record hasn’t been spectacular, but it’s not terrible either—we’ve only lost three of the last nine games. We need a rational mindset and to play to our strengths.”
On potential lineup changes: “I’ll decide the final squad tomorrow. Some players have been out for a long time, some are on yellow card warnings, and others have to play out of position. Losing Boyé has weakened our attack. When key players are out, others must step up. Every fit player is ready.”
If Alavés lose this match, would it mean relegation is almost certain? “I can’t be sure where we’ll get the points we need. We have to focus on the current match. The result of one game always affects the next. Beating Barcelona would be huge for our survival hopes.”
To the fans losing faith, Flores said: “Stay confident. Our fans understand football and are used to difficult times. Everyone remembers the promotion match against Levante, and they know the relegation fight is a long battle. We need unity, and I ask the fans to keep supporting us.”
Finally, on the fitness of Toni Martínez (called up to the Spanish national team preliminary list) and Lucas Boyé: “Toni has a knee knock, but he’ll be available for this match. It’s a recurring issue from overuse. Boyé is out for sure, but his muscle fiber tear is healing well, and we might have him back for the match against Oviedo. We’ll monitor his recovery.”
The coach also added that he feels good personally, fully focused on the three remaining games, starting with Barcelona.
