Elche forward, Fer Niño, declared at a press conference that Villarreal is the club that gave him the foundations to become a professional. With five goals this season, the player recalled that his cruciate injury at the age of 15 was overcome thanks to the care he received at the Costa Brava club, where he debuted and remained for seven years. “They treated me like a professional,” he said, emphasizing that Villarreal allowed him to “recover me” and “turn me into a professional footballer.”
Niño also spoke about the upcoming match against Villarreal at La Cerámica, calling it “special” because of the bond he maintains with the team. At the same time, he acknowledged that Elche, despite being in the relegation zone, is “improving” after a weak start to the season. He pointed out that the team is making fewer mistakes and is getting closer to victory, although his father, a former club player, reminds him that “he hasn't done anything yet” and that he must keep his feet on the ground in the face of pressure from the League.
The attacker highlighted that Elche has a “very large” squad and that his confidence in the squad allows him to continue advancing. “There are 30 days left and we are clearly on an upward trend,” he commented, adding that the team is calm and confident in its ability to advance. In addition, he expressed that he prefers to maintain the “good feelings” of the last games over the position in the table.
Niño also praised the presence of a “tank” forward in the team, which makes him feel more comfortable on the field. Regarding the next duel, he warned that it will be a tough match, since Villarreal shares a style similar to that of Elche. “If we take the ball away from them we will hurt them and it will be an even game,” he explained, underlining the importance of controlling possession.
Finally, the player revealed that his scoring performance was not anticipated at the beginning of the season. “No one expected five goals in eight games, not even myself,” he admitted. Confident in his ability, he said the goal was to score seven and that any higher number would be welcome. Next Saturday, Elche will face Villarreal with the intention of continuing to improve their position in the table and maintain the hope of promotion.