The most difficult match for two injured runners, Joselu and Fernando Pumaro

Joselu and Pumar had to watch the bulls from the side because they were injured. They would give anything to be on the field and lend a hand. They assure that the powerlessness felt from the outside is very difficult.

Joselu, striker: “I would pay anything to play these games”

Joselu Gómez (Palmeira, 35 years old) is living his ninth season in Racing, it is his last because he will hang his boots on a peg due to a chronic knee injury that prevents him from playing. He is the best scorer in the history of Racing and a footballer who did not leave Racing because of love. He had offers to leave, but he never decided. Now that the time has come for his farewell, his fans never tire of cheering him on with their songs.

— The first possibility of advancement has escaped, but there are others.

— In Talavera, we were aware of the situation we found ourselves in, we knew we had to do our part, and that is victory, and we did that. Alcorcón also won, although it was something that no longer depended on us. Now it’s time to rest and prepare for the next game. Our people supported us in an incredible way and we did everything we could, we won, because we couldn’t control the rest.

— As expected, Talavera did not reveal anything?

— It was a very tense match in which we played a lot. This game is unlike any other in the league.

— How do you see the match against Celta B in A Malata?

— I know that it will be a nice week, that people will fill the stands of the A Malat field. We must be quiet and calm. We will play the season in our house and with our people. I would have signed him when the season started. It will be a dog game, we will have to work and do what we have been doing all year. From there, I believe that luck will smile on us.

“Does it hurt so much that you can’t reach out?”

I talked about it with Fernando Pumara at the end of the game, I would pay anything to be there and play, even though it is what it is. I try to help where I can. It’s a shame I can’t be there, although I’m another racing guest and inside or out what’s going on is very nice to experience.

—Racinguista fans support the team like never before.

— I don’t think it’s now, it’s been a few years already, the fans were very mobilized for the team and we felt their great support from the stands. Already last year, the unity between the fans and the team in Vigo was exceptional. The way we went out in Vigo, in this game against Nástic de Tarragona, was already a point. The way five thousand people stayed in the stands to cheer us on in such difficult moments is something special for us. We noticed that there was a chip change by a racinguista fan. Already this season, you could see that something had happened, not only in these last games where the fans flocked to the field. We already saw that in the match against Córdoba, because it was in the first round, a long time ago and many others. Now we hope that people will continue in the same way with us. We will do our best to offer you the great satisfaction you deserve next Saturday.

“What do you want from them?”

— As before, to support us as much as they can, because it will be a very complicated match. Please keep your throats down in this game because we can’t lose the season without giving it our all. There will certainly be difficult moments and we need you to cheer us on until the final whistle and for us all to celebrate, because we deserve it.

Fernando Pumar, defender: “It’s much worse for me outside than when I have to play”

Fernando Pumar (Ourense, 33 years old) is the architect of Racing. He is already in his seventh campaign with the green jersey, although this season he was sidelined by a knee injury in the match against Córdoba. He has already had surgery, the club canceled his record, but the player is working on his recovery.

— Did the team and its fans remain with honey on their lips?

— We won, which we had to do, and from there we waited for another result, the one from Alcorcón, which did not happen, so we risked everything in the game on Saturday against Celta B. We are going to triumph and rise.

— Racing continues with the advantage of being self-reliant.

— Yes, it’s clear. Talavera was just the first chance to celebrate promotion, but it didn’t happen. Nothing happens, a new opportunity arrives on Saturday and we will take advantage of it again. In addition, with the advantage that we can celebrate it at home and with our people.

— How do you see the game against Celta B?

— It is clear that Celta’s affiliate also has a big stake in this encounter on Saturday, as they are looking for a place in the play-offs for promotion. It will be a tough game, even though they are all. Talavera is already mathematically outclassed and despite this circumstance they opposed us, in the second half they were much better and it cost us a lot more. I hope to win on Saturday with our people. At home, we will have more chances to win thanks to the support of our fans.

— What do you think about the thousand fans who travel from Ferrol to support the team in Talavera?

— What we saw in this field was incredible and we can only be grateful for the effort that people put in to be with us.

— How are the nerves in these decisive matches?

– I spend much worse time outside the field than when I have to play. When you are on the field you are very focused, very involved in the game. You don’t understand what’s going on. I’m having a really bad time, my experience this year, watching matches from the stands is very bad. It’s crazy, first of all, because you’re impatient for the game to start, when it starts you suffer again and continue as before until the referee blows the whistle to end the game. It’s clear that I prefer to play rather than watching games from the sidelines.

— Divided into two stages, but Fernando Pumar has been wearing the Racing de Ferrol jersey for seven seasons. What do you think of the current support the team has received in recent games?

— The unity between racinguistas fans and the team is incredible, completely. I said at one of the first press conferences I attended this year that I noticed a great atmosphere around Racing. Again he noticed a great togetherness like the year I progressed with the team from third to second B in my previous phase as a Racing player. However, I think that in this alliance we are now two or three steps ahead, they don’t stop cheering us on, not only at home, but also on the road. You have to fight to the death for promotion to Segunda, the team, its fans and also the city deserve it. The people in the dressing room are calm.”