Overview

• Arrasate told the squad he will stick to the ideas that define him, insisting he wants a recognizable team and cannot betray himself.
• He signaled a shift away from recent five-at-the-back plans toward a four-man defense and a return to his 1-4-2-3-1 with a higher press.
• The coach confirmed three absences for Saturday: Kumbulla and Omar Mascarell are injured, and Jan Virgili is with Spain’s U20 team.
• He framed the defeat at Real Sociedad as a turning point, saying the team hit bottom and that patchwork solutions must end.
• Alavés coach Chacho Coudet called Mallorca a double-edged opponent, highlighted his squad’s versatility, and said the starting XI will be set on matchday.