BE AGGRESSIVE AGAINST QUERETARO
Xoloitzcuintles captain Gandolfi prepared for next match, happy for teammates
TIJUANA –Javeir Gandolfi doesn’t waste any time chasing a ball and sliding to make a tackle, steal a ball during practice. The Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente defender and team captain knows this is an important week. He and his teammates want to contend for a playoff spot.
Gandofli knows this is a moment in which his team needs to be united through sour and glorious moments and get through them with the support of the fans.
“The team is working well and those who will join us tomorrow will come into a team that is greatly motivated,” Gandolfi said. “Hopefully those who played with their national teams come in and help. We need everyone’s help. All stats point to not losing any points, so, we need to do everything from the fans, the players and coaches. We need to be synchronized.”
The break in the 2014 Apertura helped the team relax and take advantage of the down time to refine and detail some things while recuperating for the match against Queretaro, a team Gandolfi believes plays a balanced brand of soccer. Club Tijuana will need to be balanced and look to attack.
“The phrase is do or die,” Gandolfi said. “We know we don’t have a margin for error. The teams that have caused us harm at home have done it on the counter attack so we have to be alert. We can’t let details get by and know that the smallest mistake can be costly and that could mean not reaching the playoffs. We need to focused and we can’t give anything up Friday.”
Gandolfli is confident the team can get a positive result at home Friday, as he likes the team’s intensity and team chemistry. He liked what he saw against Santos and Monterrey, in which the team showed to be more intense.
“The team needed the three points,” Gandolfi said. “We tried to protect it but we let it get away at the last moment. I think the team is on the rise. I hope the end of the tournament is the way we dream it. We all dream of having a good end to the season and reach the playoffs. But this is the first final of five to come Friday, so, I don’t want to look ahead. The team has struggled to create scoring chances and I think that is something we can work on and give the ball more velocity.”
Gandolfi said the team needs to be focused against Gallos de Queretaro on every part of the field. He said that team can cause damage with one touch and that in addition to Ronaldinho, the Gallos have very capable players.
