Elche manager Eder Sarabia spoke to the media ahead of his team’s trip to the Santiago Bernabéu, where they will face Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday night. Despite the challenge of playing one of the league’s strongest sides away from home, Sarabia struck an optimistic tone and insisted his team will travel to Madrid with the intention of competing for all three points.
“Our mentality is to go out and win,” Sarabia said. “We’ve struggled more away from home, but perhaps today is the day we finally
get our chance. Football is so beautiful that it allows us to believe in victory. I’m optimistic — I look at the team and I believe in winning.”
Sarabia also referenced Elche’s previous meeting with Real Madrid earlier this season, suggesting that his team had already shown they can compete for significant stretches against Xabi Alonso’s side.
“In the first game we already showed that we can be superior for long stretches,” he said. “We’ll need to be at our best, but we’re going all out.”
The Elche coach expects an intense atmosphere at the Bernabéu and emphasized that his players will need to match Real Madrid’s energy and quality by staying sharp in key moments throughout the match.
“They will be an energetic, highly motivated opponent with a passionate fanbase,” Sarabia explained. “We have to be more competitive in the small details. From the start, you’ll see a brave Elche.”
At the same time, Sarabia made it clear that Elche will not abandon their identity, though they may adapt certain aspects of their approach to handle the challenge posed by Real Madrid.
“We’re not going to play like Getafe, but there are things we have to do that Getafe does,” he said. “We’re not going to change our style of play, but at certain moments we have to be smarter.”
Ultimately, Sarabia acknowledged the individual quality within Real Madrid’s squad and the pressure they can apply, particularly when forcing opponents deep into their own defensive third.
“Real Madrid have fantastic players and they can force you to defend in your own area,” he said. “We have to be prepared for everything.”
