Pimienta: "Keeping a clean sheet makes us stronger; I take my hat off to these players."

García Pimienta was delighted with the victory achieved this noon in Vallecas: "We knew the start would be tough; they are very direct, and the crowd puts a lot of pressure." We were able to withstand the early minutes, and at the moment we could take control of the game, I think we brought it to where we wanted," he added.

Here are some of his statements:

"The team knew how to suffer and defend in a solid way; Rayo created chances out of nowhere. Keeping a clean sheet makes us stronger, and I take my hat off to the players."

"You can't dream. We are a very humble team. The 31 points are very commendable; we will celebrate this victory a lot. The fans deserve it. Hopefully, we reach those 40 points that secure salvation as soon as possible."

"Football is about dynamics. Rayo had many chances, and the team defended very well. We are in a good dynamic, and the group is very solid."

"Not just for the goal, Javi Muñoz has been performing well in many games. It was a very persistent goal; he is a guy who gives everything on the field. We are all united, and we are very happy for him."

"The team will face Real Madrid playing as they know and competing. I encourage the fans to come with yellow shirts, and hopefully, we can offer them a good match."