Rayo Vallecano manager Beñat San José has called on his squad to stay focused on football ahead of the match against Athletic Club, despite an expected protest atmosphere at the Estadio de Vallecas this Saturday. The coach acknowledges the dressing room's excitement about returning home but wants to prevent external factors from affecting the team's performance.
This LaLiga EA Sports matchday 8 fixture marks Rayo's official return to their ground after five months and having played their initial home matches at Butarque. San José, who already experienced a tense environment during the Vallecas Trophy against Cagliari, made his position clear in a press conference. “My responsibility is to have the team totally focused,” he explained. “The desire to play at home, with our fans, is so great that we don't want to look for any external excuse that weakens us.”
Respect for peaceful protest
The manager defended the fans' right to express themselves, while underlining the need for protests to be respectful. “You have to respect everyone's right to expression, including the fans',” stated San José. “Protests must always be peaceful and with respect. We always respect them because for us the fans are the most important thing.” The supporter group Bukaneros has called for a “firm and unanimous” protest against the management of president Raúl Martín Presa, aiming for the stadium to be a “clamour” of discontent.
San José is trying to separate the institutional conflict from match preparation. His goal is to protect the team and technical staff, maintaining the necessary balance to compete. The Basque coach showed his enthusiasm for the return. “We have an incredible excitement. I am thrilled. The fans push us enormously and that makes us multiply ourselves,” he noted. The match against Athletic, scheduled for 14:00, is expected to have an attendance far higher than the 4,462 spectators at the recent trophy game.
A key match at Vallecas
Rayo Vallecano faces this clash looking to add important points to their home stats. San José's team wants to harness their supporters' momentum to improve their position in the standings. They will face an Athletic Club side dealing with several absences, a circumstance the Rayo staff are analysing in their preview. Focus on tactical details and the squad's morale are the keys the manager is working on for this fixture.
The club has not commented on the potential legal actions announced after the trophy incidents, keeping its official communication centred on sporting matters. The squad, meanwhile, has been working normally for days at the Ciudad Deportiva facilities, isolating themselves from the external noise. The match presents a dual challenge: sporting against a direct rival and emotional due to the surrounding context. Rayo's next fixture, already away from Vallecas, can be checked on the fixtures calendar. The team will complete their preparation with a final training session on Friday morning at Vallecas.
