Elche vs Deportivo La Coruna preview - Depor boss sees improvement

Posted Wednesday, April 29, 2015 by PA

Deportivo La Coruna coach Victor Sanchez del Amo insists he is satisfied with the progress his side have made in his short time in charge of the club, even though they have not won any of their last 11 games.

The Galicians visit fellow strugglers Elche on Wednesday in a relegation six-pointer, and the coach believes his side can pick up their first win under his reign if they keep on playing as they have in their last few matches.

"I'm satisfied because I can see that the team is definitely progressing. We've had chances to win in all of our matches and we're going to keep looking to win tomorrow," Sanchez del Amo, who has been in charge for three games, told a press conference.

"If we keep going in the same direction at the moment we are capable of picking up points in every game we have left."

Depor came from behind to draw 1-1 with Malaga on Sunday, and the coach was pleased with the mental strength his side showed at El Madrigal, as well as in their trip to Real Sociedad, when they twice fought back to draw 2-2.

"I'm very happy about it," he said. "The team have shown in the games we've been together that we are capable of reacting, of overcoming adversity, and that's a sign of mental strength."

Elche go into the game having lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid, a defeat which ended a two-game winning streak that took them clear of the relegation zone, five points above Deportivo.

Sanchez del Amo heaped praise on Elche's defensive capacity and on their top scorer Jonathas de Jesus, who with 10 goals in his debut season in Spain is responsible for over a third of the team's goals.

"Elche are a very organised team, they're very solid and their defensive organisation makes it very difficult for you to create chances, and then in attack they have Jonathas," he said.

"But there's also much more to them than that. We will try and minimise their virtues and make the most of their few defects."

Deportivo's only absentee for the game is Cezary Wilk, who is still injured, while Elche are without Jose Angel Alonso, but have been boosted by the return of Sergio Pelegrin.