News Focus
- Rayo Vallecano face Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday night.
- Manager Iñigo Pérez demands his team honour the Vallecas community and ignore outside distractions.
- Club captain Óscar Trejo will play his final match after ten years of service across two spells.
- Both clubs are hunting for their first-ever European trophy at the Leipzig Arena.
- Thousands of Rayo fans have travelled to Germany, with more watching on big screens back home.
Rayo Vallecano boss Iñigo Pérez has instructed his squad to focus on their roots. He wants them to represent the Vallecas neighbourhood when they battle Crystal Palace for the UEFA Conference League trophy.
The Spanish team trained at the Leipzig Arena on Tuesday. They arrived in Germany on Monday evening. Pérez hopes his players can block out the noise surrounding the final.
“We will face things we do not normally experience,” he explained. “We must ignore the attention and accept every situation. It is vital we keep our identity. That will give us the best chance.”
The manager refuses to demand victory from his players. Instead, he asks them to repeat the performances that brought them this far.
“There is only one step left,” Pérez added. “I do not like saying ‘we must win.’ I cannot put that pressure on them. If they stick to their usual routines, they will feel calm and confident.”
Pérez believes representing their working-class district matters more than the result itself. He feels this approach will guide them toward success.
“We must think about Vallecas and our supporters,” he stated. “If we show our usual spirit, we will be on the right path. We cannot control the score, but we can control our attitude. We must ignore comparisons that are only for marketing.”
The club expects its largest ever away following in Leipzig. Back in Madrid, supporters queued for hours to enter the stadium and watch the match on giant screens.
“I have felt this all season,” Pérez said. “You owe an emotional debt to these fans. You feel responsible for making them proud. That matters more than the result. I hope our style of play matches what we have achieved so far.”
The Rayo manager sees similarities between his team and their English opponents. He notes both sides value hard work, though they play different systems.
“We share characteristics,” he observed. “We both understand sacrifice, even if our tactics differ. We both put the team first. When two groups like this meet, the collision is powerful. If we could have chosen our opponents at the start, we would have picked them.”
Pérez admits he feels more pressure than his players. He worries about giving them clear instructions.
“I feel the weight of making sure they understand the plan,” he confessed. “Until yesterday, I was absorbed by that. Now it is down to the players. As a player, you feel the stimuli directly. Both jobs carry responsibility, but tonight belongs to the players.”
Midfielder Óscar Trejo will wear the Rayo shirt for the last time. He has served the club for a decade across two separate periods. He described the occasion as magical.
“Tomorrow, a group of friends will play together,” Trejo said. “The journey has been hard. When we started, we did not know how long it would continue. We must give everything and enjoy the moment.”
Trejo wants to create happy memories for the travelling supporters.
“I am grateful for this moment and for my teammates,” he added. “There will be nerves, but we should enjoy this. The fans deserve happiness.”
Both clubs seek their maiden international honour. For Rayo, it would be their first major trophy in history. The club wants to enjoy the occasion rather than fear it.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner also appeared relaxed. He stated his team were satisfied with their preparation.