Rayo Vallecano coach reveals admiration for Real Madrid star – ‘Pleasure to watch him’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid are set to take on Rayo Vallecano tomorrow, in what could be an important match in the context of the La Liga title race.

The reigning Spanish champions have won only one of their last four league matches, which has allowed Barcelona to take the lead in the league standings. Therefore, this could be a must-win affair for Los Blancos.

Speaking to the press ahead of this crucial encounter, Rayo Vallecano Inigo Perez coach offered an update on the team as well as talking about Real Madrid’s form.

What Inigo Perez said ahead of Real Madrid game

Talking about the momentum heading into the game, Inigo Perez said (h/t AS), “My players have had two very good games, at a great level defending and attacking. You need that and for Madrid not to be as accurate as they usually are.”

Discussing his squad, Perez confirmed that midfielder Unai Lopez is back, while other absentees remain the same. He also highlighted the significant depth Madrid possesses, making it difficult to exploit any potential weaknesses.

“We have Unai López back and the rest are familiar. There are no other surprises. The rest are in the process of recovery. Madrid, on the other hand, has the ability to make these losses hardly noticeable. I don’t think we see any weaknesses in them,” he said.

Historically, Rayo Vallecano have endured a miserable record at the Bernabeu, with only one victory in their entire history. Perez acknowledged this statistic but expressed his desire to change it.

“When there is a statistic with so much weight you would like to be able to break it, although that will not make us win tomorrow and even more so in the year of the centenary,” he said.

With Madrid juggling domestic and European commitments, there has been speculation that their recent dip in form is linked to their Champions League exertions. However, Perez does not believe that this will weaken them, given what is at stake in the title race.

“The number of matches and that decisive phase is always a challenge. They will have to deal with injuries and losses, but that will not weaken them. They are playing for the League. From the first minute they will try to score quickly, control the game,” he said.

Rayo Vallecano are ready for the Real Madrid clash (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

When facing a team like Real Madrid, many clubs often tend to employ a more defensive gameplan. Perez, though, stressed that Rayo will not abandon their identity.

“You can’t lose your identity. Some days you look better or uglier, but we will try to make the Rayo fans recognize us.” he stated.

Talking more about Rayo’s gameplan, Perez admitted that Real Madrid’s left flank could be a threat for his team, adding, “Madrid’s left flank is populated by many talented players. It is a factor to take into account. That does not give me the key to the line-up.”

The Rayo Vallecano coach went on to talk about Kylian Mbappe, stating, “I don’t see Madrid changing their identity much, no matter who they play. Mbappé adds his individual tale.”

Among Madrid’s many stars, Perez singled out Uruguayan midfielder Fede Valverde as a player he particularly enjoys watching. “I have a soft spot for Fede Valverde. It’s a pleasure to watch him.”

Despite some claims that this match is a mere formality for Madrid, Perez dismissed such notions, highlighting Ancelotti’s respect for Rayo’s organization and approach.

“I don’t use opinions to spur my players on. I’ve heard Ancelotti and what he says is that we are organised, we are going to demand from them,” Perez said.

“I see respect and they are not going to speculate. They must have given him the statistic that the Rayo coach has not won. I can’t use that,” he concluded.