Rayo Vallecano head coach Iñigo Pérez has played down any suggestion of tension between Pathé Ciss and Ilias Akhomach following the Africa Cup of Nations final, insisting there is no risk of conflict between the two teammates.
Speaking ahead of Rayo’s La Liga match against Osasuna, Pérez addressed questions surrounding the coexistence of his Senegalese midfielder, who recently won the AFCON, and Moroccan winger Akhomach, who finished the tournament as a runner-up and joined the club from Villarreal only days ago.
The coach confirmed he had already spoken to both players and made his position clear.
“There shouldn’t be any animosity,” Pérez said during his press conference. The former Osasuna player acknowledged the symbolic nature of the situation but stressed that it had been dealt with calmly inside the dressing room.
“I haven’t been able to talk about the final,” he said. “The day before yesterday (Tuesday), I had a very gratifying meeting: the return of Pathé Ciss and the arrival of Ilias.
It’s quite amusing to see that one beat the other and that they are now teammates. I’ve already told them they’ll forget any hard feelings.”
Pérez also provided an update on Ciss’s condition following his international commitments, reassuring supporters about both his mental and physical readiness.
“Pathé is doing well. Mentally, he’s in top form. We’re delighted with his return, and physically, he’ll be ready,” he said.
The coach explained that while Ciss had been involved in intense training during the tournament, the club was monitoring his workload closely.
“He’s been training so much, depending on the situation, that he might not be overloaded, but he has been training. So he’ll be available tomorrow (Saturday),” Pérez added.
The comments came as Rayo prepare to host Osasuna in the 21st round of La Liga, a match that carries personal significance for Pérez, who previously played for the Navarre-based club. However, the coach was keen to shift focus away from off-field narratives and emphasise unity within his squad.
By addressing the issue directly, Pérez sought to close the chapter on any lingering speculation stemming from the AFCON final, reinforcing the message that club priorities come first as Rayo continue their league campaign.
