Three points in the last minute

In a game where the CDT doctor was sent off the field for walking to slowly everything happened. The team started out slowly against Toledo who they drew against in the away match. The first shot at goal came in the 30th minute from Perona who has never scored a goal on his birthday.

Toledo never looked likely to score and the only counter attack Tarantino stopped although it cost him a yellow card and a sending off. At this point with two local players Kiko Raton and Ruben Rosquete having been brought in the team made that extra push. And the goal when it finally came was glorious.

The second game this season Pablo Sicilia Roig has saved.  We are still third and now with 6 points between us and the fifth placed team

Game notes.

CD TENERIFE 1 (0)
CD TOLEDO    0 (0)

 CD TENERIFE
Sergio Aragoneses; Cristóbal, Raúl Llorente (Jonay, 95’), Pablo Sicilia, Tarantino; Marcos Rodríguez, David Medina (Ratón, 63’), Ferrán Tacón, Víctor Bravo; Perona & Aridane (Rosquete, 71’).

 CD TOLEDO
Saavedra; Amores, Aguirre, J.Sánchez, Dani Gómez; Enguix (Dani Alonso, 73’), Abel Buades, Carlos (Andriu, 83’), Óscar (Carrillo, 63’); Encinas & David Sanz.

REFEREE
Gustavo Rebollo López, from Catalunya. Sent off local player Tarantino (72’), with a second yellow card. Creds for local players Perona, Pablo Sicilia y Víctor Bravo; and for visitors Dani Gómez, Carlos y Aguirre.

GOAL 1-0: (94’) Sicilia, with a cross ball.

INCIDENTS
Played in the Heliodoro Rodríguez López. With the grounds in good condition on a warm sunny morning with 8.595 spectators some 20 of which were from Toledo.

When a draw feels like we lost.

Funny day yesterday, on the back of a 0-4 win in Alcala de Henares 500 CD Tenerife fans journeyed to Gran Canaria to the town of Vecindario. One of the smallest teams in the 2B league they are on the east coast of the island. The ferry companies decided they couldn't delay the ships so 90% of the visitors went by plane. All day from where we sat in  the Comercial centre Atlantida we coud see fans arrive and spend their hard earned money in the little town. As the game time came closer the Tenerife fans walked together singing towards the grounds only to be met by jeers from UD Las Palmas supporters. Not sure why they were there if it wasn't to provoke.
The police were not to be seen but still the blue and white fans continued onto the football field.
There was no trouble at the grounds I saw, although I have seen some comments on twitter that the police felt the needed to create a path between the blue & whites and the yellow fans by hitting the Chicharreros with their batons.

The game started with the Tenerife fans in one corner together singing, a banner was produced by the Zoneros, one of the bigger fan groups saying "Pablo Sicilia was an outstanding Canarion" (From Gran Canaria not the Canaries) and there were around the edge of the corner represenative banners from thefan clubs; Armada Sur, Frente Blanquiazul, Irish Clan and Zoneros.

The game was hard fought with neither side having many shots at goal, when right at the end there was a foul against a blue and white player in the box and the linesman called penalty. A goal!!!! Perona scored but the euphoria was short lived as five minutes later from a corner Vecindario scored.
A point to the total and a journey home. The faces on the fans in the airport said it all, but those same loyal fans will be in the stands on Sunday supporting the side at 12.00 against Sporting B.
They sang yesterday as they often do:

     It is really easy to support a winning tean

being a CDT fans is better

It is a pleasure to be a CD Tenerife fan, it brings friednship, loyalty and a love of the game I would never have known without the team but it can also be hard. See you Sunday in the Heliodoro

Game notes

UD VECINDARIO  1 (0)
CD TENERIFE       1 (0) 


UD VECINDARIO
Santi Lampón; Simón, Roberto, Amado, Pollo; Badayco, Rubén Coméndez (Moisés, 80’), Poncho (Maikel, 75’), Yeray Ortega; Yeray López & Futre.

CD TENERIFE
Sergio Aragoneses; David Medina, Llorente, Tarantino, Pablo Sicilia; Marcos, Kitoko, Chechu (Perona, 70’), Ferrán Tacón; Víctor Bravo (Zazo, 89’) & Kiko Ratón (Aridane, 60’).

REFEREE
Rubén Eiriz, from Galicia. Yellow cards for local players Simón, Moisés y Roberto; and for visitors Marcos, Víctor Bravo, Sicilia & Medina.

GOALS
0-1: (87’) Perona, from a penalty. 1-1: (93’) Aragoneses, in his own goal.

INCIDENTS
Played in the Municipal grounds in Vecindario. On Astroturf in good condition. On a warm afternoon. With 1.200 spectators of which aprox. 500 were visitors. The blue and white  president Miguel Concepcion was present at the game.

Pablo is home in Gran Canaria, he hopes to get well soon to help the team.

Pablo Sicilia is now at home in Gran Canaria, with his family. The l CD Tenerife defender was operated on last Tuesday in Madrid for the injury he received on the field in the match against Las Palmas. “Many people have contacted me to wish me well”, said the player in thanks for the support he has received. His only thought now is “to get better and play again”.
Pablo Sicilia was allowed to leave the hospital after the operation on his ligaments in his right leg. The CD Tenerife defender will now stay in Gran Canaria with his family. He commented today “I feel a lot better” to the club website. “The first few hours after the operation I was very uncomfortable, especially Tuesday night”, he admitted, “although now I feel better”. “I was able to come home to be with my family” he added.
The blue and white number “6” is as ever optimistic about his recovery for the next few months though he admits they will be hard. “I have had a lot of support, and this is great”, he thanked everyone. He pointed out that the club president had phoned him to see how he was and had said that the most important thing was Pablo's recovery. “I thanks everyone for their support” he repeated.
Sicilia explained that “when the accident happened and even after, I didn't think it was so bad. Not until Monday when I had tests done did I realise how serious my leg was”. He pointed out that “the operation was really quick”. “The two doctors Juanjo Valencia & Pedro Guillén communicated really well and now I just need to concentrate on getting better, that is the most important thing, so I can come back and play again”.
Lastly, Pablo Sicilia indicated that “I know when I finally get back on the grass I will play well and I hope to be able to help the team achieve the aims for the season”

Pablo hopes to win the derby for the fans

Pablo Sicilia was the player interviewed today, Wednesday and he talked about the derby on Saturday. “We have nothing to play for except our own pride and that of the fans. We are going out to win to give our people some happiness and finish the year in the best possible manner. A derby is always a special game, always different”.
The footballer from Gran Canaria, also expressed his sorrow for the results of the season. “We would have liked to at least have maintained the category we were in. Things went wrong from the beginning and we dragged these results through the whole season. We need to look carefully at ourselves and learn from them”.
He then continued on the same theme. “We need to win this game as e can't win anything else for the fans. We need to win and finish with as much dignity as possible”.
Lastly when asked about the future, Sicilia stated that “not even I know where I will be next year. In the next few days I hope to talk to the new sports director and know what he plans. I have a contract with CD Tenerife and it is not up to me what happens it is up to the club”.
The second player to be interviewed was Sebastián Dubarbier, who is only here on loan, he talked about Saturday's game saying, “We need to compete well. We are going with the intention of playing a good game and in spite of the relegation we hope to win”.
The Argentine finished by talking about the time he has spent playing for CD Tenerife, “I started well, and was happy with how I was playing, but I was then injured for a while. I will only take home good memories from the island” he added.

Pablo doesn't know where he will be in the future

“We are trying to finish the season with dignity. In Albacete we played well and worked hard. We know these points don't mean much but the idea is that we finish as best as we can. We need to give all we can”. Started Pablo Sicilia in his press conference. He added, “What happened this year has been an enormous blow for everyone, for the players, the fans and the whole island”.
The blue and white ‘6’, also, talked about the game this Saturday. “We need to concentrate on the game against Ponferradina. We still haven't started to think about the match against Las Palmas”, he continued.
In reference to his possibly continuing in the club, Sicilia stated that “I don't know what the future will bring but right now I need to play well on the pitch. Many of the players contracts finish now and the rest of us need to wait and see what happens. It seems clear that against Ponferradina many will say goodbye, and for this alone it is important that we win”.
He continued on this theme, “I don't know where I will be next season. In any case I have lived five great years here in CD Tenerife. I have had a wonderful time and thanks everyone I have come in contact with. I don't know what will happen in the future”.
lastly, Pablo Sicilia talked about the youth players who started in the Carlos Belmonte. “I am pleased for Moreno & Ayoze. Amaral is great to have given then this chance. It is good for the youth players to start in the first team. I hope many of them get a chance to play” he finished.

Josmar is happy to have played but wanted the team to win.

Pablo Sicilia & Josmar Zambrano attended the press this Monday. The first the defender from Gran Canaria, one of the captains of the team started by saying “We need to continue to play with gusto every game to get out of this. It is a hard blow the loss against Huesca and now we have to do our best in the nine games that we are left to play”.
Sicilia, also recommended that they turn the page, “This Monday we went back to training with the only thought in our mind being the game against Alcorcon and the three points we need to win there to change the dynamics. We need to give everything and only think about the three points. We need to be at the top of our game. The whole island is behind us and for ourselves we need to go all out to compete”.
In reference to the arrival of the new trainer, the Canary Island player pointed out, “We know David Amaral and hope that everything turns out well. We want to win and will work hard for this. It is clear that we have made mistakes and for one reason or other we didn't win games. We are stuck here at the bottom and we are the ones who need to gt out of there and improve everything we are doing”.
The blue and white ‘6’ continued saying, “We need to throw out the rest and that is what we are going to do. We really want it. We have been to many months in the relegation positions and we need to cling to the possibility we can be saved. We need to show this on Sunday”, he finished.
Josmar Zambrano, on his side, started talking about the individual and collective feeling. “Personally I am happy to have had the chance to play again but I am also sad for the loss e took. We are only thinking about the game on Sunday and a win in Alcorcon”.
When asked about the loss on Saturday the Venezuelan player confessed that “it was a hard blow to lose against Huesca but we are going to fight to move out of there and we need to look to next weekends game. It is normal that the fans aren't happy as the team isn't doing well, but they have always supported us and I hope it will continue this way” he added.
To finish, Josmar Zambrano said they wouldn't throw in the towel, “I think there are still chances and I hope the team can save itself. We need to go all out in Alcorcón”, he concluded.

Juanlu and Pablo talk about their hopes for the weekend.

Juanlu Hens & Pablo Sicilia were the two players who talked to the press on Sunday. The two CD Tenerife players attended the media at the end of the training which took place in Tarragona before the journey home started. Both footballers insisted on that there was still hope although the situation is difficult.
Juanlu started by resuming the feelings after the game on Saturday in the Nou Estadi: "The point fells like little. The victory would have permitted us to be nearer Nástic. Now we are back to playing at home and the possibilities are still there we need to be optimistic”.
"In the first half we worked really well, but the goal in the 44th minute was a blow. The second half was more coming and going”, he added.
The player from Cordoba said the team wouldn't throw in the towel, "We need to go on thinking and pushing our rivals. We need results. We have broken that long run of losses and now we need to do things well to beat Huesca”.
"We need to be mentally strong. In odd moments our rivals score against us but we need to get up and go on. We need to lessen the difference between our rivals and win in the Heliodoro” explained the Andalucian player.
"We are always working to be available for the trainer” he finished when asked about his return to the first eleven.
On his side Pablo Sicilia was the player who commented that “we started well, competing to the maximum. We went forward on the score board and just before the break they equalised. Finally with one player less things were hard”.
"With the sending off their game tightened. We tried and tried to score. We worked hard all game right to the end but it wasn't to be. Hopefully this weekend we will start to add points three by three” added the player from Gran Canaria.
Still, the defender insisted on pointing out the positive bits of the game: “I am left with the first half, where the team was outstanding and went all out for a triumph”.
"We didn't lose, we kept the distance and we need to win at home so we can see things differently. Every time there are less games left to make mistakes. The numbers are there, but we mustn't think long term. We need to go out and win against Huesca no more”, he pointed out the options for the team.
"We need to go all out, my companions and I will go out to the end”, he concluded.

Captain Pablo Sicilia calls for one last push.

Two of the CD Tenerife captains, Sergio Aragoneses & Pablo Sicilia, were the players interviewed today, they both talked about the position the team finds itself.
The keeper from Galicia signalled for the first time “our options of salvation come by winning in Tarragona. We need to bring these three points home however. This is the last train, this is what we think, and we need to catch it this time”.
On this theme he continued saying, “We can't be depressed and we need to try. We are living a very hard year. The situation is very complicated for all of us”.
The blue and white keeper, finished by advising that, “The only way to look forward is to beat Nastic. Everything works by winning games, every game every weekend from now to the end of the league. It is the moment to concentrate on our job, to talk on the field to move forward”.
Pablo Sicilia, then talked, starting by stating, “the squad is more united than ever. This is important and now we need to show this on the field. We need to play for everything”.
In reference to the talk that the technical team had with the player on Tuesday the defender from Gran Canaria commented that, “Talks are always helpful. We need to save the season and we can't leave anything behind”.
“Every game needs to be a final”. Continued Sicilia, who added that “we know against Nastic we are playing for everything. We are going out to compete and we need to give everything we have”.
The island player, equally, valued the importance of a win in the Nou Estadi. “If we win, we will see a way out. Without excuses we need to go out to win. This is and will be our mentality”. It isn't easy to play in a situation like this, but we are professionals but we need to take this moment as a challenge”, he added.
The blue and white ‘6’ lastly wanted to send a message to the fans. “I understand that the fans are hurt and cross with us but from here let me ask for one last effort, so between us, we can take Tenerife out of this situation”, he concluded.

CD Tenerife 1 - 2 Cordoba CF

Somethings aren't meant to be and although CD Tenerife went ahead with an early goal from Nino Cordoba equalized in the 31st minute. Melli was sent off for a foul on the last man in the 50th minute. The team from Andalusia then scored again and although CDT tried to the end they were unsuccessful.

CD TENERIFE   1 (1)
CÓRDOBA CF   2 (1)
CD TENERIFE
Sergio Aragoneses; Marc Bertrán, Melli, Ezequiel Luna, Pablo Sicilia; Omar, Antonio Hidalgo (Juanlu Hens, 59’), Kitoko, Dubarbier (Ricardo, 71’); Igor (Natalio, 59’) & Nino.
CÓRDOBA CF
Alberto García; Fernández, Richy, Tena, Fuentes; Alberto Aguilar, Jorge Luque; Callejón (Usero, 87’), Charles, Camile (Cabrera, 81’) & Pepe Díaz (Oriol Riera, 75’)
REFEREE
Daniel Ocón Arráiz, from La Rioja. Sent off local player, Melli (50’), as last man for a foul on Pepe Díaz, and the visiting trainer, Lucas Alcaraz. Also sent off with double yellow cards was, Pablo Sicilia (76’ y 92’). Yellow card for local player Marc Bertrán, and for visitors, Pepe Díaz & Fernández.
GOALS
1-0: (12’) Centered by Dubarbier, a header by Nino. 1-1: (31’) Callejón, from a free kick. 1-2: (56’) Alberto Aguilar with a straight shot at goal in the area.
INCIDENTS
Played in the Heliodoro Rodríguez López. On a cold afternoon with the grounds in good condition,
13.988 spectators present. One minutes silence was held in memory of all those who died in the catastrophe in Japan.

The players talk of their happiness after the game against Xerez

At the end of the CD Tenerife-Xerez CD game, the faces of the local players reflected the happiness they felt at the victory and the fact for the first time this season the team was out of the relegation positions. The players to attend the press were goal scorers Pablo Sicilia & Antonio Hidalgo, as well as Richie Kitoko who played for the first time in the Heliodoro.



Sicilia: “The fans were great. We need to thank them for all their help. We suffered but we are going home happy. The feeling in the team is different today. We are improving. Again we were better. At the start of the game there weren't many chances but towards the end it was different. Who scored isn't important. What counts is that we gained three more points. The best thing is the happy faces of my collegues in the dressing room. Not only are we out of relegation but we are getting better”.

Hidalgo: “Today is a day to enjoy. But we need to carry on adding points as we are seriously short. The team is recovering feelings and points which finally is what counts. We are on a good run. We know what counts is that we win more games. But anyway the league is very even this year and any rival is difficult. Right now we seem batter able to read how we play each game. Xerez has been on of the best teams to pass through the island this year and with victories like this on things look different, better”.

Kitoko: “I am really happy we won and how we played. The most important thing though are the three points. We can't thank the fans enough for their support. We need to keep going the way we are. Right now we are becoming a strong team who gets the respect of every rival and we can go anywhere and win. We received their gaol really quickly and this changed the way we played. It made us compete right to the last second. Our rivals now know that CD Tenerife is better than before”.

The players talk of their happiness after the game against Xerez

At the end of the CD Tenerife-Xerez CD game, the faces of the local players reflected the happiness they felt at the victory and the fact for the first time this season the team was out of the relegation positions. The players to attend the press were goal scorers Pablo Sicilia & Antonio Hidalgo, as well as Richie Kitoko who played for the first time in the Heliodoro.



Sicilia: “The fans were great. We need to thank them for all their help. We suffered but we are going home happy. The feeling in the team is different today. We are improving. Again we were better. At the start of the game there weren't many chances but towards the end it was different. Who scored isn't important. What counts is that we gained three more points. The best thing is the happy faces of my collegues in the dressing room. Not only are we out of relegation but we are getting better”.

Hidalgo: “Today is a day to enjoy. But we need to carry on adding points as we are seriously short. The team is recovering feelings and points which finally is what counts. We are on a good run. We know what counts is that we win more games. But anyway the league is very even this year and any rival is difficult. Right now we seem batter able to read how we play each game. Xerez has been on of the best teams to pass through the island this year and with vistories like this on things look different, better”.

Kitoko: “I am really happy we won and how we played. The most important thing though are the three points. We can't thank the fans enough for their support. We need to keep going the way we ae. Right now we are becoming a strong team who gets the respect of every rival and we can go anywhere and win. We received their gaol really quickly and this changed the way we played. It made us compete right to the last second. Our rivals now know that CD Tenerife is better than before”.

CD Tenerife 2 - 1 Xerez Game notes

CD Tenerife beat Xerez CD (2-1). The victory helped the team lead by Tapia to continue to move up the table and get out of the relegation positions. The local goals were scored by Pablo Sicilia & Antonio Hidalgo, with a penalty. The goal scored by Xerez was two minutes after the second CD Tenerife goal which added emotion to the second half. Xerez animated by this goal put their hearts into the second half but in vain. The three points sstayed at home. Now the team are a little safer.


CD TENERIFE 2 (1)
XEREZ CD 1 (0)
CD TENERIFE
Sergio Aragoneses; Marc Bertrán, Pablo Sicilia, Ezequiel Luna, Beranger; Antonio Hidalgo (Mikel Alonso, 75’), Kitoko; Natalio (Omar, 60’), Julio Álvarez (Kome, 83’), Dubarbier & Nino.
XEREZ CD
Chema; Juan Luis Redondo, Leandro, Vicente Moreno, Raúl Llorente; Bruno Herrero (Barber, 46’), Cordero (Antoñito, 75’); Pablo Redondo (Nieto, 60’), Óscar Díaz, Capi & Mario Bermejo.
REFEREE
Eduardo Prieto Iglesias, from Navarra. Yellow cards for local players,  Antonio Hidalgo & Marc Bertrán, and for visitors Bruno Herrero, Cordero, Mario Bermejo, Juan Luis Redondo & Barber.
GOALS
1-0: (39’) Pablo Sicilia, from a low cross ball. 2-0: (54’) Antonio Hidalgo, with a penalty. 2-1: (56’) Cordero, by getting ahead of the defence.
INCIDENTS
Played in the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López. The grass was in good condition. On a warm friday night there were 16.545 spectators. Iriome was there instead of Juanlu Hens who had been taken poorly.

Remember the Xerez game in 2009?

CD Tenerife & Xerez CD have confronted each other 17 times in their history on the island and the blue and whites have a strong winning run. The Canarian team has won 12 of the games with the Andalucian winning only three. The other two matches ended up in a draw.

Both teams had the bitter sweet end to last season when they descended from the first division to the second. The last time they played each other on the island was October 2009 when the blue and whites won 1-0 with a goal from Alfaro.

The first squad continued training for the match this Friday today in the El Mundalito grounds with a session which lasted an hour and 45 minutes.

After their habitual warm up the players did a series of exercises which allowed them to practise ball skills in the whole field. Afterwards they did some sessions of pressure play and then they played a match in reduced space on the pitch.

Today both Ricardo León and Igor completed the first part of the session, then they retired to the changing rooms. Also Melli and Kitoko completed the session with full training. As often Josmar Zambrano & Dani Mederos, from the CD Tenerife B were present.

The first CD Tenerife squad will be back at work on Wednesday at 10am in the El Mundialito grounds.

Mikel Alonso was on of the two players interviewed today. He commented on how he sees CD Tenerife playing right now. The mid-fielder said, “The team is working well and we need to be strong. Xerez is having a good season but we are fine now and capable of beating any rival”.

The blue and white player commented “all the games in the second division are hard. They have rhythm and intensity. We want to get out of the relegation positions and if we carry on playing the way we are then we will get then. Lets see if we can do it this weekend”.

When asked about his playing Alonso explained “You always notice when you haven't been playing And I have missed more games are we had some mid week ones. I finally played a little but I am not happy because although I got the chance to play at the end we lost and went home with that bad taste in our mouth. It is good to see competition and that we all want to play”.

The other player interviewed was Pablo Sicilia, who couldn't play due to federation punishment against Celta. “Now we need to train hard and I hope I will be able to play in the next game. We know Xerez well. They have good player and we will need to compete well to keep the three points at home”.

The defender from Gran Canaria continued explaining that, “as we move up the table things will seem different. I remember the CD Tenerife-Xerez the year we went up. This was a vital game for us and we managed with one player less. The fans pulled us together in a fashion that was outstanding and will always be one of my favourite memories”he finished.

A draw that felt like survival. Tapia and the players comments

The C D Tenerife players all coincided in the thought that although this was only a draw it left many positive thoughts. And that they need to continue working to reach their goals. Luis García, Marc Bertrán & Pablo Sicilia were the players who talked in the press area after the game in the Heliodoro Rodríguez López.


Luis García: “If we analyse how the game went it feels OK. We were on the upward path and with the scoreboard at 1-3 we needed to go all out and the luck which was missing against las Palmas or Granada today looked down on us. Today was an important game. We would have been at three points away from outside the relegation zone if we had won”.
Marc Bertrán: “The game had in my opinion phases that were very different. We went out well and the team played at a great level. With the draw the game changed and in two plays they scored two goals and with one player less things ere complicated. The team ran and we worked all out , today we had that little piece of luck that we haven't had before. In this league draws count little and we hope to have a few wins as soon as possible”.
Pablo Sicilia: “I am happy as with one less and loosing we managed to fight back. This is something we can hold on to. At all time we wanted to win and we all plan to go on trying until we achieve our goal. The team is improving and there is faith. I am happy to have scored my second goal this season and at least it helped to save the team a point. We are trying our hardest in the training and the games and the moment will come that the negativity will change and we will gain points three by three”

Coach Antonio Tapia commented
“I have a bitter sweet feeling. We have seen some really good things and some really bad ones. Above all in defence where we gave the other side options. It is a shame but these can be fixed. We really need the points but the bottle is also half full and you need to see that we played well for most of the game, we will soon be gaining points”.
If there is anything that bothers Tenerife it is the statistics and about this the Mister had something to say, “We scored 5 goals at home and the last 2 games although the opposition has also scored five. We played moments of really good football and right now we need to give the team support”.
When the Andalucian was asked about the unfortunate play where Sergio Aragoneses was sent off and the influence it had over the game, he responded “it was not that important. To be left with 10 men alters your play but after that we scored to goals. I still think that the mental condition of the players is difficult as it is not normal with 1-1 on the board that the game changes. We are not reading the plays. Not in attack or defence”.
In spite of everything Tapia believes that there are many positive aspects that the team have to get out of the hole they are in “today we managed a draw in-extremis and although it could have been a win it serves to reinforce the team so they know they can get out of situations like this, above all it helps the defence. It is mistakes that bring us down”.
The blue and white trainer highlighted the phrase which the players had told him at the end of the game: “Mister, we will be OK if we play like this”.
The coach from Cordoba also commented of the new player Argentine Sebastián Dubarbier: “Sebastián played in a position that he isn't accustomed and he put himself into the game, even playing the corner form which we scored the 3-3. He has demonstrated that he is a player you can count on. In defence he did a magnificent job, in a position again he doesn't play. I liked the way he played very much”.
When asked about possible players arriving and some that might be here the trainer replied sharply “At this time I need to concentrate on our level of play. If we hadn't had these errors in defence and had won any valuation would be different. The players are are capable. Any player who comes is welcome, they will need to start work and think about the next game”.

Pablo Sicilia may be the third player to reach 150 games with CDT this season

If there is one team who have affected player Pablo Sicilia in his professional career without doubt it is C. D. Tenerife. The blue and white defender is one game short of 150 games played in the league for the island team. In this way he is very close to the figures recently reached by Sergio Aragoneses & Ricardo.
The game this Wednesday against Granada CF might be for Pablo Sicilia his 150th game with the blue and white shirt on. The island defender arrived to play for the team in the season 2006/07 and since then has always played a high number of games each season. The statistics for these years speak for themselves: 38 games (06/07), 32 (07/08), 36 (08/09), 34 (09/10) & 9 (10/11).
After passing through the junior teams of Atlético de Madrid including some minutes in the first team, Pablo Sicilia accepted the offer to come to Tenerife and started his professional career. Before that he had played in the second B league and here he had the chance to make the step to the silver level of Spanish football.
He made his debut in Almería-CDTenerife which was a triumph for the Canarians with the result 0-1. Then there were another 148 more games of which 34 were in the BBVA League. In this year an unfortunate injury in the final of the Trofeo Teide he was unable to compete. Two weekends ago he started against Ponferrada and scored the only goal. And he also started in the derby last weekend, against UD Las Palmas.
This Wednesday he will be in the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium for the game against Granada CF (20:30 ). If the new CD Tenerife, trainer Antonio Tapia, lets him play, Pablo Sicilia will have played 150 league games for the blue and whites. With this the objetive to add three vital points to their total and bring them loser to the safety positions in the table.


The CD Tenerife first squad trainer this morning in the Heliodoro Rodríguez López with closed doors.

Pre - Derby round up.

Thursday Morning ticket sales for the Derby in the Heliodoro started. There was high demand. Hundreds of people waited for the office to open. The Popular stand behind the goal sold out within a couple of hours. There were 3000 tickets available and they are expected to sell out before Sunday. There were 1,150 packs sold between the three and four game ones.

Fuentealta, a company who are committed sponsors of CD Tenerife will be adding a little colour to the Derby. As a high interest game they will hand out more than 18,000 blue and white flags amongst the fans who are at the game to help increase the atmosphere at the game.

Dani Kome knows how it is to live the Canarian Derby. Two years ago he lived the triumphs against Las Palmas and as such knows the importance of these games. The Cameroon national player was in the press room on Wednesday. “We know there will be many fans in the stadium this Sundays game, there always are for a Derby. I hope history will repeat itself” the forward started. “It is a great opportunity for us. A triumph against Las Palmas, at home with our fans will serve to gain confidence”.
About the change of position on the field Dani explained that “I feel very well and hope to play this game, which is so special for the whole island. I am happy playing in the centre. If that is where the coach wanted me then great”.
“We are going to give everything and gift nothing this game. If we win the fans will have more confidence in us too and this will give the players wings. On Sunday we will play all out for the three points, so everyone can go home happy. A derby is like a final and we will play one hundred percent. There are no favourites, but I only think about going out to win” he concluded
For his part Pablo Sicilia knows how to live through a Derby. The player who is from Gran Canaria has experienced Derby's before, “It is very special. If you are Canarian probably more so. To play one, and more than that win one  is a great objective. With the possibility of winning the three points I wouldn't care who scores. There is no better gift we could give the fans than a win against Las Palmas”.
“I feel privileged. It is a dream to play in a classic game like this. It is awesome. Who ever is in the Heliodoro, will enjoy a very emotional day”, he added.
“The derby's are always remembered. The chance to be there is lovely. Bad runs don't exist when you meet your greatest rival. We are all ready to give the maximum for every minute of the game”, he finished.


Mikel Alonso also know what a CD Tenerife-UD Las Palmas game feels like. The blue and white midfielder understands the importance of Sunday's game and expressed himself this way. “The derbys are the games you feel the most. With maximum emotion. It is football at its maximum. We want to make our fans happy. I know that is a giant step. We need to tighten our game and do this for the fans. The are always there for us. We want to make this a great game. It is a Canarian football party. The players are trying their best”, said the Basque.
Mikel, who on Thursday trained part of the session on one side due to injury hopes not to miss the game: “I hope I will recover quickly to be able to join the squad as soon as possible. We need to wait and see. Then if need be I can force it. If I can I hope to play ”.
Thursday the squad trained in the Heliodoro. It was the first session there this week. They trained for and hour and 20 minutes. Cristian, Josmar Zambrano, Moreno, Bruno y Germán, were all there to train with the first team.
Tomorrow, Friday the squad will be again in the Mundalito from 10 am. Juan Carlos Mandía, the CDT trainer will have a press conference after the session.
12 players in the present squad have taken part in a Canarian Derby:Marc Bertrán, Ricardo, Pablo Sicilia, Nino, Antonio Hidalgo, Sergio Aragoneses, Iriome, Kome, Juanlu Hens, Ezequiel Luna, Luis García y Mikel Alonso. Marc Bertran has played more than any other player. He has had the chance to take part in 6 Canarian classic games. The result of which is positive. He has played in three victories and three draws.
Of the Canarian players Ricardo León y Pablo Sicilia have played on 5 different occasions against Unión Deportiva.

Local player Iriome González managed on his first game against Las Palmas to score two goals against them. Nino has also managed two goals but in different games.
Dani Kome, Juanlu Hens, Ezequiel Luna, Luis García & Mikel Alonso have always seem wins when they played.
Saturday night there will be a dinner for the club representatives including presidents Miguel Concepción for Tenerife and Miguel Ángel Ramírez for Gran Canaria and they will dine in the Restaurant Los Limoneros, in Guamasa.

Interviews with the players and Mandia after the loss against Albacete

After the loss against Albacete it is hard to explain what happened. Pablo Sicilia, Daniel Kome y Omar Ramos were the three players whose turn it was to be interviewed in the Heliodoro after the game and to explain what happened. The players were all sad about the result and felt the expulsion of Luna left them all affected.
Sicilia: “The team started well, we dominated Albacete up to the play where Luna was sent off. This changed the game. Even then, CD Tenerife was still looking to score. We made an enormous effort and there was no joy for it. We need to try to make a change, although the situation is difficult. No one expected that his late in the season the team would be so bad. There is nothing left but to stick together and try harder. What ever I say now it won't make the fans any less cross”.
 
Kome: “The situation is complicated. We didn't count on losing this game. We started well but the expulsion of Luna left everything in the wrong direction. There is nothing but to keep working to make this better between us. The team was playing well even after the sending off. In the second half Albacete had no shots at goal. The fans are there and the team is there and between us we can improve. We are going to Ponferrada and need to try to win the game. From there we can win more games. I can't value other things, the management are there for that. The player need to be out there working hard. Today we deserved at least a point”.

Omar: “We started out controlling the game up to the sending off. With eleven we could have won this game. After the red card we tried everything but we had no luck in scoring a goal. The idea now is to try to get three points in the next game. This match was really important for us. There is lots of league left and we need to keep working hard to reach our goals. With one less we had the game under control. I can't comment on decisions that are the clubs to make. The most to blame are the players ourselves”.

“It is difficult to explain the result. With eleven player on the field we were in control and with ten too. When you are down everything that you do can cause more bad effects”. This is how Juan Carlos Mandía started his press conference on Sunday after the end of the match which C.D. Tenerife lost against Albacete Balompié.
The maximum responsible trainer for the blue and whites said “everyone had the feeling we would win the game. We need to be the team that you saw in the first minutes of the game. Who made the other side uncomfortable and unable to attack. If we make less mistakes it will cost us less. When we were 0-0 we had chances”.
For Mandía, “today we weren’t inferior to Albacete. If we hadn't received the goal we would have had more chances to win. The key point is to make less mistakes give our rivals very little space and not let in goals”.
That said, Mandía showed that he hoped the situation would change: “I believe that at any moment what we are doing will show results. But to get there we need to be consistent”.
“There are many games left and many points in play. Our time needs to come”, said the man from Galicia when asked about what options CD Tenerife had to escape relegation. Mandía also commented that he wasn't afraid of possibly being sacked that “the club employed me to train, not to value someone else's work”.
Juan Carlos Mandía again expressed his thanks to the fans for their fabulous support in spite of the results: ”the fans are going to push. The loyalty that the supporters have with the club you don't see very often. What we professionals need to do is work hard and not commit mistakes. The feelings of the fans can't be mistaken. They know we will do our best out there”.
For the Tenerife coach part of the reaction that the team are going to have comes form the reinforcement in the way of players who are expected to arrive in the next weeks. Mandia explained this in the following terms: “The club is looking for players. It is better that they arrive earlier than later. But that is a question for other departments though I know it is not easy”.
Juan Carlos Mandía concluded his interview with the statement “I am really fed up. I hurt for the club and the city. The only thing I can promise is that we will continue working”.

Mandia and the players talk after the game against Valladolid

CD Tenerife trainer Juan Carlos Mandiá Lorenzo, started the interviews followed by several players. They talked about the game and the help the players needed from the fans in January.




“Before the game we needed 37 more points and now we need 36. If we gain the points three by three it will be easier but this draw is important”. This is how Juan Carlos Mandía started his press conference at the end of the game against Real Valladolid in Pucela.
Mandía insisted that he asking for the maximum effort from his players. He also wouldn't comment on things that might divide the team. “What counts is that we keep adding points. I am  respectful of everyone’s views, but it would be good to create a positive atmosphere. Where everyone works towards getting out of the position we are in. Lets try not to cause a breakup”.
The blue and white coach valued the positive reaction of the team to remount after both goals. “When a group is like this , it is hard. But we need to fight and that is what they did. The fact they came back twice is important. We need to make the most of this. If we can win on Sunday then this one point will count a lot more,” noted the trainer.
He refused to to give any explanation about specific points of the game. This he said was because, “If I don't make changes you ask why I didn't or that I did too late. I will not debate with you. There are things I do as trainer. I always try to make the best out of what I have to work with”.

The players interviewed stated the following:
Beranger: “We found our game. It was a good game. Every point the team adds is a positive. We just had two bad games and this 2-2 draw gives us confidence. At no time did we lose faith. We looked for goals and achieved them. Valladolid with very few chances managed two goals. This is how things work when you are at the bottom. Our aim is to gain the three points at home”.
Iriome: “I had accounts outstanding with Aitor. He told me I was going to score and I went to look for him to celebrate. It is a long time since I scored with this shirt. Julio Is also to blame for this goal. Valladolid had good chances. We didn’t have many. This point means we start the year adding points to our total. On the positive side we reacted when they scores. We need to look at the good things. If we win against Albacete then this point will count for more. We need to be strong with the help of the fans in the Heliodoro”.
Sicilia: “I am personally very happy and for the group too. We made a great effort and Iriome's goal was the compensation. We started the year well. This is a tough ground. And it was a complicated game today. We need to hold the positive. All the players are exhausted. I am convinced that we are improving and if we keep today’s attitude then we will move forward. I would like to ask the fans to help us in the game against Albacete if they help us we can find the three points. The thing that stays in my mind today is the effort the group made. That we never lost faith”.
Julio Álvarez: “We need to build on the positive factors from the game. Players who haven't been in the game added to the squad. The team worked the 90 minutes and we not brought down. I saw the team as intense and aggressive, without leaving spaces. As well we played with spirit and reacted. This is how to grow. We need to help so the club can be seen as great from the field up. I came out here to play for the team for three years. We have no doubts. We will be stronger the more games we play like this. There are always things that could be improved but the team did all they could. We ran our guts out and we have seen the prize”.
soy del tete

Local lads review the year.

Iriome González was the player to be interviewed in the press room in the Heliodoro stadium after the training session this morning, Friday. The young man from Icod talked about his hopes for the New Year.
“I hope that we will start the new year on a good footing, in 2011 we need to get out of the situation we are in as soon as possible”., he commented. “We hope that the future will be better than the present” he added.
“What I really wish for 2011 is that the team moves away from the bottom of the table. For me personally I hope to play the most minutes possible”, the local player continued. “We need to work really hard, unify our forces even more if possible and get over this bad run” he finished.

Pablo Sicilia was also interviewed. The player from Gran Canaria started by talking about the terrible position the team finds themselves: “The most important right now is to concentrate on Valladolid. We need to give everything on the field to have the chance to bring those three points home to the island”.
Sicilia made a brief review of the finishing year, considering that “2010 wasn't all that good, but we shouldn't forget that we had the chance to compete in the best league in the world. To see the Heliodoro with nearly full gates is also somthing to remember”.
“We all wish to get away from the bottom of the table. We need to think about ourselves and how to come good. We are all concious of how important this is.” he concluded.