Sergi Darder celebrates a Mallorca victory
Álex Caparrós / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP
Sergi Darder (32) is one of Mallorca’s key leaders. After making his professional debut at Málaga, moving to Lyon, and returning to Espanyol—where he came through the youth system—he finally got the chance to play for his hometown club. This season has been a difficult one for the vermilion side, including a coaching change, but Darder sat down with Flashscore Audios’ David Pineros to discuss the situation.
How are you and how is the team feeling after back-to-back wins against Real Madrid and Rayo, and the draw against Valencia?
Obviously, we are in a much better place mentally, morally, and confidence-wise than two, three, or four weeks ago. But in terms of the standings, we’re still in a similar spot. In these recent matchdays, almost all the teams near the bottom picked up points. Fortunately, we beat Madrid—an unexpected win for everyone, because without those three points we’d be even further down. But the team is in good shape, with confidence, and we still have a calendar full of decisive games.
Psychologically, how do you handle a tough season like this, where you win matches people don’t expect you to, but direct rivals do the same and you don’t pull away?
In recent seasons, LaLiga has become extremely tight. The days of Madrid racking up 100+ points are unlikely to return. Obviously, the top teams are far better than the rest, but from fifth or sixth place down to 20th, the gap has really narrowed. Matches are much closer, the level is very similar, and winning every game is incredibly difficult. That’s why we value those two consecutive wins—I think it had been over a year since we last won back-to-back games. So we’re very happy, but this is a league where the team that is fittest, strongest mentally, and most prepared to suffer will likely survive.
Mallorca’s current league position
Flashscore
Now that you’re two points above the relegation zone, is it better to have more teams in the fight, or do you try to focus only on yourselves? Is it impossible not to check the table every matchday?
Well, the reality is we have to focus on ourselves because we control our own destiny. We’re in a process with a new coach and still assimilating concepts—even though things are going well—so we can’t afford to think too much about others. Still, I’d be lying if I said we don’t check Sevilla’s results, for example. It’s inevitable. When so many teams are in the fight, I think those with 38 points are further away, and those already on 40+ we obviously rule out. But there are five, six, or seven of us. Even though it seemed like last week or recently that Rayo or Valencia were practically safe, after that round where all the bottom teams won, they’ve been dragged right back into the nerves. So the more teams involved, the better, and if they’re in it and we aren’t—well, imagine.
How does it feel to be fighting for survival alongside teams like Levante, who battle until the very end?
We knew they would fight, especially because we’ve seen it. Levante came from the Segunda División, and they know every Primera game is a prize for them, just like it is for us. They’ll keep fighting until they have no chance left, and they’re doing exactly that. They are good teams, as I said earlier. The squads, the teams are so evenly matched. The teams in 9th or 10th place…
