Francis Díaz: "I've asked the players to be themselves and keep having fun"

MADRID, 23 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The coach of UD Granadilla Tenerife, Francis Díaz, assured that his players must be "themselves" and continue "having fun on the pitch" in Tuesday's semi-final matchup of the 2021-2022 Copa de la Reina against Sporting de Huelva, a game and a competition that he sees as a good opportunity to publicize how "powerful" the First Iberdrola is.

"I have asked the players to be themselves, to continue having fun on the field. The tie is at 50 percent because this is not a league and it is a coin in the air with uncontrollable factors, although we have worked a lot on the controllable ones. Diaz said this Monday at the press conference prior to the match against Sporting de Huelva.

The coach stressed that his team had a "brutal" week and that in these games "there is little work by the coaches because the motivation is in the atmosphere." "In spite of everything, it's already a prize to be here because we didn't count on any pool and we've earned it on the green, which is where it should be done," he commented.

"We respect the rival a lot, who right now for us is the rival to beat, and no matter what happens, we have an emblem in the locker room that is 'Together we start and together we finish', and that's how it will be," Diaz warned.

He reiterated that Sporting is a "very difficult team" and that it is "difficult to predict anything." "It's not the league and there are many factors that affect the game's mechanics. We've already played two games with them, the teams have changed little and we're not going to discover Sporting or Antonio (Toledo, rival coach) now." pointed.

"They have a very good squad and here are their results, they have left an entire Atlético side in the gutter and we have to take that into account. We have to go out very focused and focused to face a rival that has already been Cup champion, so For our team, the final would be a historic milestone", underlined the UDG coach.

Francis Díaz also took advantage of the occasion to vindicate women's football. "I arrived very recently and I am in love. When I arrived I had a certain respect for him because I was facing a world that is true that it is the same as the male world, but with circumstantial differences. I was hooked from minute 1 as they worked and that They are good people and very good footballers," he said.

"If we want to grow like we all fill our mouths a lot, I think it's time to show it regardless of which team is, we have to show that Spanish football is at the level of the best and we hope that people come to the stadium to show that this league is very powerful", he sentenced.

Together with the coach of the Tenerife team, Raquel Prieto, 'Pisco', appeared, making it clear that "this type of match doesn't need motivation". "The competition itself already demands it of you. I just have to tell my teammates to enjoy themselves and that we go out and do our best, and whether things work out or not, let's keep working because I think the results will come. We have to be happy playing and getting our fans to enjoy", he remarked.

"I think we come to this Cup with a lot of hopes. We had the honey on our lips to be able to get that pass to Europe, but I think the team has worked spectacularly and has had a ten season. The mission is to get the pass to the final and put that icing on the season to be able to finish in the best possible way", added the captain.

The defense also asked the people of Alcorcón that, "regardless of the team it is and whether or not it is their favorite", they come to Santo Domingo to watch the game. "We are going to feel proud that they are supporting women's soccer in general because we need that support so that it is visible and has that external support so that it continues to grow," he concluded.