Paco López: "It's another test for us"

C.D. Leganés head coach Paco López spoke this Friday in the press conference prior to the match that the pepinero team will play on Saturday (18:30) against U.D. Almería at the Ontime Butarque Stadium, corresponding to Matchday 15 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION.
The coach assessed the team’s situation before the match as follows:

Absences: "Guirao and Álex Millán have some discomfort and haven’t trained normally. Franquesa and Miguel have trained normally. To that we add the already known absence of Pulido."
Criticism in recent weeks: "I’m focused on the work, on the players improving, becoming more competitive and competing well. That’s my focus and what we do every week, and this week has been no different."
A big test against Almería: "For us, from the first match we consider every game a final. We play at home, with our fans, and that must serve as motivation. I ask our people to support them—it gives us an extra boost. We’re facing a team that needs no introduction, one of the best in the league, built to win promotion. They have strong numbers, have improved throughout the season, have tremendous attacking potential and score goals easily. Another match to measure ourselves against a top team."
Figueredo: "He’s gone through an average period due to the discomfort he had, which hasn’t completely disappeared. He’s helping us, and that’s what we want—that when we need him, he helps and stays switched on, like everyone else."
Mood: "Our focus is on translating what we do in training into matches. That was last week’s message and they have had another spectacular week. With the same identity, the same competitive spirit, the same enthusiasm. Only the setting changes, and we also have our fans behind us. The idea is to play a good match tomorrow, for them to leave satisfied with a complete performance, and if that happens we’ll be very close to winning."
Not feeling like favourites: "Every match is extremely difficult. Winning is hard no matter who you play, and we’re facing a very strong opponent. It’s another challenge for us, having one of the big teams in the league in front of us and proving we are at that level. We’ve shown it in other matches for many minutes. We’ll try to impose ourselves and do a better job than them, play well against a powerful rival."
Fans: "I can’t ask anything more of them. They fill the stadium every week and that means they’re with the team. The players feel that support and strength, and it’s an extra boost—it must serve as motivation. It’s us who must give something to the fans. I’d like that synergy between players and supporters to grow, for everyone to row in the same direction so that opponents find it difficult to play at Ontime Butarque."
Franquesa: "When he completes full weeks at a good level, we’ll have him fully available. This week he’ll be on the bench, and if we need him for twenty or thirty minutes, we’ll have him. It’s very good news for everyone, also for him mentally."
Juan Cruz: "Scoring always helps attacking players to gain confidence. He was very close the other day; he’s a player we ask to get into the opposition box, and he’s doing that. We’re seeing more and more of Juan Cruz at his best. If he scores, even better, but that’s not the priority—it’s more important that he plays comfortably, confidently, and with that bit of aggressiveness to reach the opponent’s box."
Fixed block: "What we want is for everyone to be switched on and ready to help the team, and they’re doing that. Everyone wants to play and works for it, but the season is long and we know we’ll need everyone. From the teams that start a season to the ones that finish it, there are many changes. But the most important player is the team—that is untouchable."