Granada CF vs Valladolid preview - Mainz wants Granada to channel frustrations

Posted Saturday, April 20, 2013 by PA

Granada defender Diego Mainz believes his side are ready to turn things round following a miserable run of results that has seen them plummet down the Primera Division standings.

The Andalusian outfit have taken just two points from their last eight league games, have not won a match in over two months and have shipped a worrying 10 goals in their last two outings - losing 5-1 and 5-0 against Real Betis and Atletico Madrid.

That dismal run has left them just a point clear of the relegation zone but, after the team spent the past week at a special training camp in Marbella in order to focus their minds on the final seven games of the season, Mainz is optimistic of better times ahead.

Speaking before Saturday's visit of Real Valladolid, the 30-year-old vice-captain told reporters: "The balance is positive. We have been together for three days and far away from the negative atmosphere that surrounds the team at the moment.

"We are excited about Saturday and looking forward to putting in a good performance. Our work in the last few days has served us well and now we have to put it into practice in the match."

Granada's last home match saw them heavily beaten by Andalusian rivals Betis and Mainz hopes they can help make amends for that performance and give their supporters something to smile about at long last.

"We really want to please all our fans. After this bad run we want to show that we are not in the position we should be in and that the team have a lot more quality than has been on display in the last few matches," he said.

"The best way to do that is in the next match, to show ourselves that this run must come to an end.

"In the four years I have been here the fans have never let us down. They are not enjoying this situation and neither are we and we know that they will be on our side.

"They will be waiting for us from the moment our bus arrives and we are grateful to them for that. We're going to complete our part of the bargain and I think that, in the end, we are going to do it together."

Valladolid are in a far more enviable position than their opponents and moved 11 points clear of the drop zone after beating Getafe 2-1 last weekend.

However, coach Miroslav Djukic warned his players they cannot afford to be complacent about staying up.

"You never know how many points are going to be enough to ensure survival so we'll go out for the win in Granada," he told a press conference.

"We can't go there too relaxed because the home crowd and the atmosphere can force you into conceding. We can't sit back too much against a team that are going to put a lot of pressure on us."

Djukic has a full squad to choose from for the game, while Granada will have to make do without suspended midfielder Yacine Brahimi.