Iker Álvarez reflects the strong form that Córdoba has shown in recent weeks. His performances have been key to keeping Ania’s team in the fight for the promotion playoffs. Yesterday, in a match where he had little to do due to Granada’s limited attacking output, he pulled off a spectacular save from Óscar’s shot that could have made it 1-0.
Asked about that moment, the Andorra international explained, “You spend many minutes out of the game in our job, but you have to stay alert because the opponent’s chances can come at any moment. That’s what we’re here for—to help the team.” He added, “We are happy to keep a clean sheet because it’s a collective effort.”
Indeed, in this improved run for Córdoba, they have recorded two clean sheets at home, against Zaragoza and Granada. This has already matched last season’s tally of eight games without conceding. On this, Iker Álvarez noted, “In the end, the defensive line and the goalkeeper give it special importance.” But he shared the credit, saying, “It’s everyone’s merit because we defended well.” He illustrated this with the final minutes against Granada: “We were able to defend very well in a mid-low block. The team knew how to manage time and stay compact.”
Álvarez revealed the mood in the dressing room after the final whistle: “We are happy. We are in a good dynamic. From here, we’ll look at the next match against Albacete and think about the 63 points ahead.” However, that joy was preceded by tension on the pitch. The Andorran goalkeeper argued, “In these matches, everyone wants to win, even if people think some teams have nothing to play for.” He justified it by saying, “We all have that winning edge when we step out to compete. What happens on the pitch stays there, and we take the three points.”
With three games left, Córdoba has not fallen out of the promotion playoff race. Still, Iker Álvarez is focused only on Friday’s 21:00 match against Albacete, where “we have to do our job.” Because “we can reach 69, but first we have to get to 63 and then keep adding. We’ll see how it goes, as results don’t depend on us.”
And there is belief in the Córdoba dressing room. Iker Álvarez insisted, “I always thought we could, even though the teams above seem to be going at a good pace.” He added, “Many teams will drop points because everyone has a lot at stake.” That’s why he emphasized, “I think we can do it, and that is what motivates us the most. We can depend on ourselves if we reach 69 points.”