Levante is in great form this season, once overtaking Barcelona, and Real Madrid, the two giants, occupy the top spot in the standings, shocking the entire Spanish football world.
The mentality of coach Ignacio Martinez, who led the team to create all this, has gradually changed, from being cautious at the beginning of the season to being extremely confident now.
So when facing Santa Malaga, he didn't take this D-level team into consideration at all, which had repeatedly performed miracles.
Is Santa Malaga strong?
…
On January 4, the weather suddenly turned cloudy, drizzle began at noon, and the temperature dropped sharply.
Although it was raining lightly, it still could not stop the enthusiasm of the fans from both sides.
Supporters from both sides began to gather in the square outside the Rose Garden Stadium.
The reporters who arrived at the scene early took advantage of this opportunity to interview fans from both sides.
There are not many fans coming to Levante, but those who come are die-hard fans and are the most loyal supporters of the team.
So they were very confident when they were interviewed.
"Although we are playing away tonight, the victory can only be ours!"
"We have proven ourselves in La Liga this season, and now we have to prove ourselves in the Copa del Rey!"
"Of course we will win, Levante wins, there is no second possibility!"
On the other side, a Malaga media reporter was interviewing Santa Malaga fans. They were also confident in Santa Malaga.
"Santa Malaga has already given us too many shocks, and I believe they can give us another shock tonight!"
"Some people say, 'The miracle of Santa Malaga ends here.' I don't agree with this statement, because Santa Malaga has not won enough!"
"Santa Malaga hasn't won enough! Santa Málaga will win again tonight!"
"Saint Malaga has created so many miracles! I have reason to believe they can still create a miracle tonight!"
"Levante is indeed amazing this season, very strong, and even defeated Real Madrid, but so what? I still have full confidence in Santa Malaga!"
At half past six, the Santa Malaga bus drove into the stadium first. After getting off the bus, Pablo went to be interviewed by reporters as the team's representative, and the others walked towards the locker room.
"As captain, Mr. Pablo, are you confident about tonight's game?"
"Levante has been very strong this season and is now fourth in the standings. Are Santa Malaga confident of creating another miracle?"
"Some people criticize your huddle tactics, saying that your game is very ugly. You are playing at home tonight, will you still use huddle tactics?"
Reporters asked questions one after another.
Pablo answered reporters' questions calmly with a smile on his face.
"I have always had full confidence in the team. We are a group of people who love football and have dreams. We like the feeling of 'winning'!
It is this belief that allows us to overcome various difficulties and defeat our opponents time and time again!
Regarding tactics...
I know some people are criticizing us, and that's normal.
If a D-level team competes with a high-level league team, if it wants to win, it can only adopt intensive defensive tactics.
We want to win, so we adopt intensive defensive tactics. Is there a problem with this?
Of course, we will make changes when the time comes, like tonight!"
The reporters' eyes lit up. So, Santa Malaga is preparing for a battle with Levante tonight?
This must be a smoke bomb!
The reporter reacted immediately.
Soon after, Levante's bus arrived, and reporters immediately turned their attention to Levante.
Pablo glanced at it and quickly ended the reporter's interview.
Levante head coach Ignacio Martinez comes to reporters.
A reporter first asked: "The captain of Santa Malaga said in an interview just now that they will change their intensive defensive tactics tonight. What do you think of this?"
Ignacio Martinez raised his eyebrows and his eyes lit up: "Very good, I hope they really give up their intensive defense and come to fight us in an offensive battle!"
It’s good to fight against each other!
What Ignacio Martinez was worried about was Santa Malaga's defense. Now he heard that Santa Malaga was going to play an offensive game, which was exactly what he wanted.
Ignacio Martinez's attitude towards Santa Malaga changed 180 degrees, and he praised Santa Malaga with a smile on his face and said:
"Santa Malaga is a very strong team, otherwise they would not be able to eliminate four professional teams in a row. I think they are fully capable of competing with professional teams!
If they really do this, they will earn my respect!"
After leaving the reporter, Ignacio Martinez sneered in his heart: Offensive battle?
Do you think I'm an idiot?
…
At 6:50, the players from both sides finished their warm-up and returned to the locker room to make final preparations for the upcoming game.
In the visiting team's locker room, after Ignacio Martinez announced the starting lineup, he looked at his players and said solemnly: "The winter break is over. We just use this game to train and get everyone back into shape. We will play tonight."
Everyone needs to invest.
Well, at least show up at 60%!
The opponent will definitely shrink for half the court, we must be patient when attacking!"
Home team locker room.
After Antonio arranged the starting lineup, he said loudly: "Every game we play now is a historical moment. I hope that when we grow old and look back on these years in the future, we can boldly say, 'I am here and I will fight hard.
I tried my best and I did it!'!"
There were whistles and applause, and Liag loudly said: "Coach, the ideological problem was solved at the park stadium yesterday afternoon. These guys are holding back their energy now. Just tell me what to do tonight!"
This remark caused a burst of laughter, and Zucculini said with a smile: "Coach, let's attack tonight. Anyway, we have made history. I don't want to be so conservative anymore!"
These words resonated, and many players expressed their support.
"Attack out! Fight with them!"
"Offense is the best defense!"
"Offense! Offense is the essence of Spanish football! It is the thinking of Spanish football!"
Antonio exchanged looks with captain Pablo and nodded.
In fact, some players have already proposed giving up intensive defense. Previously, they listened to Antonio's opinion for the sake of performance, but this idea has always been in the players' minds.
Levante is in amazing form this season and once topped the La Liga standings. Many Santa Malaga players subconsciously believe that it is almost impossible to get past Levante.
In other words, they believe that there are only two games left in the Copa del Rey journey, and tonight's game is a home game. If they don't play tonight, there will be no chance of an away game in the next round.
Antonio and Pablo had many exchanges on the matter, and Pablo finally convinced Antonio.
After the players' voices slowly subsided, Antonio nodded to them and said: "Since everyone wants to attack, then we will attack tonight!"
These words immediately ignited the locker room.
"good!"
"Long live the coach!"
"Coach, I love you!"
"The high-position pressing I practiced before finally comes into use!"
Li Chuanqi's eyes lit up, and he was finally ready to fight?!
…
At 7:15, the starting players of both sides appeared in the tunnel and followed the four referees into the stadium from the tunnel.
In addition to rain, they were greeted by cheers like a roaring mountain and a tsunami!
The stands were basically occupied by supporters of Santa Málaga, including those from Málaga and D-division football players from all over the country.
There were only a few hundred Levante supporters, and their voices were suppressed by the numerically superior Santa Malaga supporters.
Mixed in among the fans from both sides were a dozen scouts from different clubs.
In the broadcast booth, the Malaga TV commentator shouted into the microphone: "I'm at the Rose Garden!
What will be broadcast live for you soon is the fifth round of the Copa del Rey, between Santa Malaga and Levante!"
Malaga's game is also scheduled for tonight, but their game will not start until after this game ends, so the TV station decided to broadcast the Santa Malaga game first and then the Malaga game.
This is also in line with public opinion.
You must know that in the last game, the TV station did not broadcast Santa Malaga's TV, and the TV station's phone number was almost full of calls.
