Rayo Vallecano's Inigo Perez on Strasbourg Tie: 'There's a Social Aspect That Sets Us Apart'

Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez has emphasized the reality of their Conference League semi-final against Strasbourg, urging his team to shift focus from dreaming to the present challenge. He acknowledged it as one of the club's most significant games and expressed confidence in his squad's preparedness.

Perez confirmed that Luiz Felipe and Alvaro Garcia would be absent due to injury, while goalkeeper Augusto Batalla is fit to play. He chose not to comment on the significant ban imposed on Isi Palazon. When asked about a prediction for the match, mirroring his pre-quarter-final comments, he humorously stated uncertainty about the result but stressed the importance of capitalizing on home advantage in the first leg.

"I'm not sure what the result will be (laughs). We had to take advantage of playing the first leg at home; if they let you strike first, you have to capitalize on it. In the quarterfinals, we suffered a heavy blow from them, but tomorrow the mentality has to be the same. They’ve also learned from their experience; they struggled in Mainz. All of us who will be playing in the semifinals have experienced something similar."

'We're Not Nervous, We're Comfortable in Vallecas'

Despite the magnitude of the occasion, which marks a European debut for many Rayo players, Perez remains unconcerned about potential nerves.

"I’m not nervous. We’ve been training together, there’s no reason to be nervous. Maybe a little fear, but it’s a positive thing. It’s not nerves, that’s when you’re not prepared and you’ve achieved something that doesn’t belong to you. There’s a sense of urgency for the hours to pass so that everything can begin. We feel comfortable in Vallecas."

The current match is being dubbed by some as the biggest in the club's history.

"Labels are subjective. For me, it might be the most important match, but for someone else, it could be the promotion. Tomorrow is crucial and will be remembered in the club’s history. My speeches always go in the same direction. It’s football and you have to express your mentality. Even if we win convincingly tomorrow, the game will be decided in Strasbourg. The mental aspect is 99% of the battle."

Perez reflected on the club's message of "we play to create memories," emphasizing that the outcome of this game will be etched in history regardless of the result.

"I watched the club’s video about this match and it made me think about the message I’ve been giving, the one about ‘we play to create memories’. Whatever happens will be remembered. Continuing to dream belongs to what happens in the future. Tomorrow, the most important thing is to play, to live, to be, to exist… The best mindset is to stop dreaming, because it’s reality. It’s the best way to prepare for this."

'There's a Social Aspect That Sets Us Apart from the Rest' – Inigo Perez

Rayo Vallecano stands out among the semi-finalists due to its relatively smaller stature compared to other clubs competing in European competitions.

"We are very different. You can feel it in the neighbourhood. Then there’s the political aspect, and I’m no-one to be giving political speeches. There’s a social side that sets us apart from the rest, and we want what people feel or what they create to be reflected on the pitch. Since I’ve been at Rayo, when I go to and from the tunnel, I feel things I’ve never felt before."

Rayo Not Contemplating Possibility of Relegation

Strasbourg, one of the tournament's surprise packages, boasts a young and talented squad, partly due to the ownership of BlueCo, who also own Chelsea.

"We’ve studied Strasbourg; they’re quite young and have a lot of talent, as their very attacking style of football shows. We must maintain our identity and hopefully we’ll be the winners of the match."

"The semifinals practically play themselves. In the round of 16 and quarterfinals, the coach needs to be more involved to understand their importance. It’s going to be a tough match between two teams that are eager for a final. They’re younger, we’re more experienced, and a final would be the perfect ending to our history."

The hypothetical scenario circulating in Vallecas is whether Rayo would trade relegation for a European victory.

"I’m not considering it. I’d rather lose a final than be relegated, which causes a pain that’s hard to overcome. I understand Rayo’s fans. If I were a fan, like Sergio (Camello) says, I’d be fully behind the Hypermotion team, especially with a Conference title in the trophy cabinet," Perez explained.

Rayo will host Strasbourg on Thursday night at 21:00 CEST in Vallecas, with the return leg scheduled for the same time next week at the Stade de la Meinau.