Iñigo Calderón is looking forward to returning to The Memorial Stadium ahead of Bristol Rovers’ home clash against Mansfield Town in Sky Bet League One.
The Pirates have lost their last two matches in the third tier, coming away without any points away to Lincoln City and Crawley Town, but will head to The Mem with confidence on Saturday. Rovers have won their previous two outings on home soil, narrowly beating Huddersfield Town before triumphing in a five-goal thriller against Bolton Wanderers.
Overall, the Pirates have won five games at The Mem under Calderón, with their other victories coming against Barnsley, Peterborough United and Burton Albion.
Calderón spoke positively about the reaction in training to the most recent defeats before previewing the clash against the Stags and the importance of the home fans.
TRAINING AT THE QUARTERS
“It’s been really positive. That’s the good thing about coaching and football. You feel really bad after the game. You feel really bad on Sunday but after you start to train on Monday, try to have meetings, try to be with the people here and you see a reaction that gives you the confidence that at least we are doing everything we can do. Training hard and working harder.”
MOVING FORWARD
“It hurts, and I was really down on Saturday, as I have to be. You try and get the positives. There were not too many, but it’s just about moving forward and thinking ahead and what’s going on and happening next.
"For me, the most important thing is day by day, the work we do here in the training ground and to see the players come in, the commitment they have and the effort everyone is making. That gives you the confidence that we are doing things right.”
RUEL SOTIRIOU RETURNS
“I think it’s important, obviously, because I think he was in really great form, and that was something that you miss. You have to accept the rules and the situation were are [in]. It’s not about putting in excuses, but it was a big loss, especially because he was in great momentum. Having him back is going to be another option, so it’s good for the team.”
TEAM NEWS
“I always have to think about that. I think we have the same ones, so no more problems. The good thing is that the players played a little bit the other day that were probably not at their best. They are going to be better this weekend. So, that’s positive as well.”
MANSFIELD TOWN PREVIEW
“They are difficult opposition. I think they have had a tough time, but they won the last game they played, so probably they are in better form than they were before, and they didn’t play last weekend. So, probably, they will be fresher, but for me, it’s not the opposition.
“ We know what we have to do. We have to improve because I said the other day that we were not good without the ball, and we were not good with the ball. So, for me, I always again try to be positive, and I know that we have to do a lot of things better. That gives us the room to improve and the things we have to be focused on.”
COMING UP AGAINST NIGEL CLOUGH
“I played against him as a player. He’s an experienced coach. You always have to respect them, and it’s a good challenge for me as a coach as well. I see it as a challenge because they have more experience than me.”
BACK AT THE MEM
“It’s a relief when you play at home because we have been better. It doesn’t mean that we can relax because, obviously, we cannot relax. But it’s true that you approach the game saying, ‘lately we have been good at home.’ We are going to have the fans behind us, so it’s always a positive to do that.
“I always try to say when you ask the reasons why we are not able to win [away], I always say the factor of The Mem. I think it’s all the teams in the division, especially at the bottom. They struggle more to get wins away, but it’s a big thing for us to feel the support from the fans. We are talking a lot about the passion or the intensity when we play at home is better than away. It has to be because the only difference is the fans because everything else is the same. We have the same eleven most of the time and the same referees.
“I know the supporters are not happy. I am not happy. We cannot be happy. But at the same time, we need to have everyone supporting the team because we need them a lot.”
