Málaga CF faces Sporting de Alcázar for the first time in the Copa del Rey, with the aim of relieving the pressure that has led the team to seek its first victory of the season. Coach Juanfran Funes has emphasized that the competition represents a great opportunity for the squad, which since the beginning of the season has not achieved a victory in the League.
Funes explained that the match with Sporting de Alcázar is an ideal opportunity for more players to participate and gain experience. "We are looking forward to it. Today we talked about it and we believe that it is a great opportunity for many things: so that a greater number of players can participate and to advance in a competition that we face with great enthusiasm," said the coach. According to him, the Copa del Rey is perceived differently when it is played from the First Division, against teams from the First RFEF or Second Division, which changes the dynamics of the confrontations.
The coach also stressed the importance of approaching the game with humility and recognizing the opponent's motivation. "We have to take advantage of it, because I think the competition is going to be more interesting every week. Now we must face this first game with humility. We know, because we have experienced it from the other side, what this match represents for the rival team," he said. Funes added that Sporting de Alcázar will feel the excitement of playing a match against a First Division club on their own ground, and that Málaga is prepared for that challenge.
Regarding the lineup, Funes confirmed that he will make changes to give minutes to players who have had less participation in the League. "It is, above all, about giving minutes to players who are having less participation so that they gain rhythm and can demonstrate their level. I think this competition offers those possibilities," he explained. The coach highlighted that the Cup is not only a way to advance in the competition, but also a platform for individual footballers to show their ability.
With the event scheduled for Tuesday, Málaga CF seeks to consolidate its presence in the Copa del Rey and, at the same time, generate confidence in the squad. The result of this first match could lay the foundations for the team's performance in future matches in the competition, as the club continues to search for its first victory of the season.