Nacho Gil returns and demands more intensity vs Girona

Nacho Gil is back with Tenerife after recovering from an injury and is expected to be in the starting XI this coming Monday at the Heliodero against Girona. The Valencia midfielder arrives without any setbacks and wants to reverse the current results streak with one clear change: intensity.

“We are a team that you can really see when we don’t go to the limit,” he said, pointing out that last season in Primera RFEF they also went through a similar stretch. In his view, the latest issues aren’t about the defensive base —“we’re seen as a team that’s reliable at the back and concedes little”— but about not defending “all eleven” at maximum.

“Cervera asks for duels and defensive work”

Gil said Luis Cervera is asking him to “be the one on the ball and help as much as possible at the back,” and he outlined his focus: winning duels, being strong, and keeping the team’s defensive standard. He also addressed the idea that smaller players suffer when defending in the modern, more physical game, citing his own adaptation and pointing to what Raphinha does at Barça.

Move past Córdoba

He finished by urging the squad to leave the Córdoba result behind and go at Girona immediately: “This small bad run can be changed against them… correct it, forget Córdoba, and let Girona pay for the mistakes.” According to MARCA.