Pepe Mel: “Elche will not make it easy for us”

Mel revealed the squad he has chosen for the double away games, highlighted by the good news of the return of Araujo, of whom he said "he is the first of a long list of injured players to have made it back", adding "he lacks match fitness but he will be gradually getting sharper and sharper. His recovery should be similar to how Benito has got back to fitness". 

"Elche are an intense side who play in a similar style to us, but with lots of little details, and we are locked together in the league on the same points" he pointed out. Mel also made it clear that "the three points at stake have the same importance. Because the league season is ongoing it allows us to keep our players fired up and keen to perform". 

While the situation surrounding Jonathan Viera is high on the list of issues in all the press conferences, Pepe Mel explained that "to keep going on about his situation is no good to anybody. The most important thing over the next ten days is to pick up six league points and to get through to the next round of the Spanish Cup".