Paco López: "We need Butarque to be a pressure cooker tomorrow, because we’ll be facing a great opponent"

The coach assessed the situation ahead of the match as follows:

Absences: "We still have this afternoon’s training session. There are still some players in doubt. The confirmed absences are Pulido and Óscar Plano, while others will remain doubtful until the very end."
Winning at home: "Every week should be the perfect week to win. We know we’ll be facing one of the strongest opponents this season—not only because of their squad, but also their style of play, their coach, and their ability to create chances. It will be a difficult match against a rival that will continue to test us. They have very talented players, with great technique and a very clear idea of how they play. We want to give the fans something to celebrate, and I have no doubt they will be behind us constantly. We need Butarque to be a pressure cooker tomorrow, to really push us on, because we’ll be facing a great opponent."
System: "We have a diverse squad, players with different characteristics that allow us to adapt to any formation. The collective idea is more important than the starting structure, but having players who can adapt to different positions allows us to play with a back four or a back three. What matters most is what we want to do with and without the ball. We try to use different structures and give the team several options. In Granada we did some things I liked and others I didn’t, especially in the second half. We’ve analysed that this week."
Relief after winning: "Winning always builds confidence and helps. But the team’s play had already been good and we trusted that the win would come. It probably wasn’t our best match, but everything helps. What we want is to keep growing and improving our game, and to see that same competitive, aggressive team tomorrow that wants to get into the opposition box."
Duk: "He’s a perfect example of a player who can adapt to different positions. What matters is that everyone is willing to help the team, and we’re very happy about that. Hopefully that makes the team stronger and leads to victories. There are other players as well who can play in positions that may not be their usual ones."
No minutes lost: "What the team shows me is that it’s competitive, committed, and hard to beat for any opponent. If we can maintain that, all the better."
Las Palmas: "We’ve analysed the opponent as we always do, also based on our own ideas. On paper it will be a very even match, with two teams looking to attack and not settling for a draw. If we finish with a win and can give that victory to our fans, even better. It’s going to be a very tough match—I’m sure of that. Tomorrow we’ll really need the support of the crowd."
Areas to improve: "Every match is a different story. We want to be better every week and try to impose ourselves on the opponent for as many minutes as possible. That will be our idea tomorrow."
Foundation for improvement: "This is the path we’re going to keep insisting on. It’s the way that must lead us to victories. Tomorrow is another opportunity to show it. Wins always give confidence, but the dressing room was already calm. They trust the work being done. Whether the win came sooner or later, this is the formula. Our relationship is more about the work and doing things well."
Differences in the week after a win: "The atmosphere is excellent, the way they train is incredible—they train like animals. You always notice a small difference when you win, but we try to make sure those ups and downs affect the dressing room as little as possible."
Franquesa: "He’s a great player, very important for us and he will continue to be so—not only on the pitch but also in the dressing room. He’s going to help us a lot. He has a muscular issue that has nothing to do with his previous injury. When you’ve been out for so many months, once you start training again these kinds of minor muscular issues can appear. They’re not serious, but they do slow the recovery slightly."
Defence: "We’ve had the misfortune of suffering several injuries in the same line in the same week. We have academy players who are ready and willing to help us. We’re happy with what we have."
Pauwels: "There are many things to consider. We’ve played five matches and it’s not easy to give minutes to more than twenty players. He’s a very talented player, but you have to understand players’ adaptation processes. He’s very young and we really believe in him. Competition will make the team stronger. He has characteristics that will be very useful throughout the season, and we believe in his development because he has talent."
Salary cap: "It has nothing to do with squad cost. We’re at a financially healthy club, which is not easy, and we should congratulate ourselves for that."