"VAN" (Sports Desk - 05.06.2025) :: With the second half of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 fast approaching, we are catching up with players and coaches of all nine men’s and women’s teams to take the temperature of their season through the first half and explore their targets for the remaining matches. In today’s interview, we speak with Max Caldas and Carlos Cuenca, coaches of the men’s and women’s Spanish teams, the Red Sticks.
Max Caldas
"The first part of the Pro League in Australia was very positive. We were very happy about it, I think we played some good hockey and were able to get a lot of new players into the programme and give them the exposure to play these games. More senior players are coming back to this Pro League stage, but the aim is always the same, to start with just focusing on ourselves."
"Sometimes you just need confirmation that you're improving through your performances. I think the Pro League is a very important tournament in itself. It might even give you the chance to qualify for the World Cup without needing to rely on the European Championship, if you finish high enough in the standings. Since the Netherlands, Australia, and Belgium are already qualified, there could be a ticket available. What we need, in all our forms, is to have a really solid Pro League—being able to compete and put together a few strong performances in a row against top teams. We'll have that opportunity in the coming days."
Carlos Cuenca
"We are a newly promoted team, and we are very clear about our main objective: to stay in the Pro League. Although our work, performance, and results have put us in a privileged position, we don’t lose sight of our focus. Now, we face four very tough rivals, so we must maintain our concentration and continue working with the same mindset. The goal remains the same and is essential for us: to maintain our place in the league."
"It’s been a different period because it involves the coexistence between clubs and national teams. It’s a very complex time where we have to accept all contexts and situations, respect the work being done at the clubs, but at the same time, national team players must always be at a higher level, maintaining their international rhythm. We have been fortunate to work quite intensively during the periods allowed by the calendar, and we have made the most of those moments. Obviously, we won’t be at the ideal peak fitness for this type of competition and matchups, but we are very clear about which games we need to be at 100%, and I believe we will achieve that."
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