Quique opens the door for Toni Martínez and talks about Mikel Rodríguez, Izei and the defense ahead of Osasuna

Deportivo Alavés

Toni Martínez still has options

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Toni Martínez
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The main new development from the press conference is the situation of Toni Martínez. The forward is suffering a microrupture in the soleus of his right leg, but Quique Sánchez Flores has not wanted to rule him out yet for the match against Osasuna. "We will wait until the end. The guys are gradually changing their feelings". Alavés still has a training session to go, and the coach wants to push his options. From a fantasy perspective, his presence remains doubtful and, even if he makes the squad, he could do so with the risk of limited minutes or starting from the bench.

Mikel Rodríguez will be a major absence

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Mikel Rodríguez
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Much more complicated is the situation of Mikel Rodríguez. Quique acknowledged that the injury has affected the dressing room a lot and that the player was putting in an important level. "We really regret this situation because it comes with a lot of excitement and he is very young". The coach also highlighted what he was contributing to the team: "He was allowing us to raise the bar for the players in his position". His absence, therefore, creates an opportunity for other players in the squad.

Izei could return to the first team

One of the names who could benefit from Mikel's injury is Izei. Quique Sánchez Flores said that one of the solutions is to bring him back into the first-team setup. The coaching staff's plan is "to bring Izei back" to the first team. Although the coach admits he is a player with different characteristics, his return would numerically offset Mikel's absence and could give him new opportunities over the coming matchdays.

Alavés wants to keep being reliable at the back

Quique also stressed the importance for his team of maintaining defensive solidity. The coach is happy with the performance at the back, although he believes they can still reduce the chances they concede. "It's not only important to keep the goalkeeper's goal clean, it's the feeling that they don't shoot at you much." Ahead of Osasuna, he expects a demanding game on the physical front, with plenty of duels and an opponent who is showing good defensive numbers. For fantasy, the Alavés defense continues to be one of the most reliable units in the team, although Quique wants to improve the protection of his goalkeeper even further.

Fantasy outlook

The main uncertainty is Toni Martínez. He is still not ruled out, but his injury makes him a risky option for this matchday. The absence of Mikel Rodríguez could lead to changes in the minutes distribution, while Izei appears as one of the candidates to gain more prominence. In addition, Quique's message maintains confidence in an Alavés defense that will continue looking for games with few goals and maximum solidity.