Paco López: "It's a big opportunity, we want and we have to win"

C.D. Leganés head coach Paco López spoke this Wednesday in the press conference prior to the match that the pepinero team will play this Thursday (19:00) against Albacete Balompié at the Ontime Butarque Stadium, corresponding to the second round of the Copa de S.M. el Rey.

The coach assessed the cup match against the team from La Mancha as follows:

Absences: "The same as in Zaragoza. We’re not getting anyone back."
Suspensions of Marvel and Duk: "Marvel, out of necessity, will play tomorrow because it’s a position where we have many absences. With Duk we have more alternatives, so we’ll see."
Rowing in the same direction: "I already have more than enough work straightening out results, motivating the team, turning these results around, to get into other things. From the beginning we’ve advocated that this is everyone’s responsibility. I’m convinced we have such loyal fans that tomorrow they will help and stand by the team, as they always have."
Turning point: "Tomorrow’s match is a great opportunity. We want and need to win, because it’s the best boost for the league. It’s a new challenge; the best thing for Sunday is to play a good match tomorrow and win."
Possible rotations: "I’ve repeated this message many times. We have a squad that works incredibly every day and everyone deserves to play. We’re just as calm with those who will play tomorrow as we were with those who played on Sunday in Zaragoza."
Positive message: "The captains have a lot of experience and they are pulling the team forward. The team is very much alive. After the disappointment of the last result, they’re hurt and angry about so much adversity, so many difficult‑to‑understand decisions. They want to react to these situations and the negativity. We’re not getting the reward we deserve, but I’m convinced this run of adversity will eventually end."
Feeling angry: "Because the results aren’t coming. And because something is happening with so many questionable refereeing decisions that I don’t understand. It tends to happen when things aren’t going well, but just as the coach’s or the players’ work is questioned, questioning refereeing decisions seems to cost you a suspension. Marvel’s red card was very harsh; the Referees’ Committee admitted it was the only play where they made a mistake. And on top of that, he gets a two‑match ban. Not only did it harm you in that match—you’re winning 0‑1 and play seventy minutes with one fewer player—but you also lose him for two more matches. There are many matches where we could have picked up points. In the end you have to swallow your pride, keep your mouth shut, and continue on my path of trying to get the best out of our players. We will continue fighting against this and we will get through it."
Albacete: "They have many strengths. They started the season conceding a lot of goals, but they have corrected their results and have decisive players. I know their squad well and I know they are very committed players. They will make things very difficult for us, and I’m convinced it will be a very even match."
Refereeing decisions: "I don’t understand what is happening; it’s something that escapes me. I’ve been very respectful and have defended referees and VAR a lot, but I would like it to be reciprocal, and I don’t think it is."
Institutional support: "I think I’m the only spokesperson right now because I come out every week in press conferences. The club has a way of proceeding that I find respectable and consistent with recent years. I have the microphone, and I use it to defend C.D. Leganés because it deserves it; it is a respectable team and respected by opponents and by some institutions, but not equally by all."
Duk’s send‑off: "Without justifying any challenge, it’s a play where he makes an effort and saves a ball on the touchline. The assistant raises the flag indicating it was out when it wasn’t. He receives a kick from the opponent, he neither falls nor dives, and it generates frustration that leads him to do something he shouldn’t have done, even if he had reasons."
Possible change on the bench: "If that’s the case, they’ll have their reasons. I remain just as calm; the coach is still strong, motivated, responsible, optimistic, hardworking. With that I try to get my team to follow me, and I have no doubt they will."
Recognizable aspects: "Many things. Talking about positive aspects when results are bad… I prefer to focus on the fact that the team has a lot of room for improvement. The idea is to change this, turn it around. It’s so tight that in two weeks everything can change, and we are convinced it will."
Defense: "The other day, in the first few minutes Zaragoza pressed and created three clear chances. It has also happened to us: we start strongly, don’t score, and the opponent scores with the first chance. We went ahead 0‑1, and from there it had nothing to do with the sending‑off. With one fewer player, even though Zaragoza turned it around, I’ll stick with the fact that they ended up asking for the final whistle, and that says a lot about the team."
Injuries: "They’ve been concentrated in the same area of the pitch, which makes them seem more numerous than they are. Lalo, Rubén, Jorge… Every team has injuries; these things happen, especially when results aren’t good. They’re all falling in the defensive line."