Igor Oca: “We're going all out to try to win”

C.D. Leganés head coach Igor Oca appeared at a press conference on Thursday ahead of the team’s match against Granada C.F. on Friday (8:30 p.m.) at Estadio Ontime Butarque, as part of Matchday 25 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION.

The coach assessed the team’s current situation ahead of the match as follows:

Absences: “Only Pulido. We’re training with everyone; we have a few players with minor injuries, but everything is practically back to normal.”

Need to win: “We always have to push forward and be brave. The other day, things got complicated due to a mistake we can’t afford to make; we managed to tie the game late and could see victory was within reach. We had Luis’s chance, but I wouldn’t link that to the goal we conceded. We mismanaged the transition. But we have to be brave and go out to win every game.”

Message to the fans: “If we’ve won, it’s because they’ve been outstanding. The way they support us is crucial; we feed off every good play, and they need nothing to cheer us on from the first minute. Tomorrow they’ll be essential. We respect freedom of expression, but beyond that, we know they’ll be behind the team—I’m absolutely certain of that.”

Winter Transfer Window: “The only thing that has changed is the intensity of our communication with the sporting management. We give it our all in every match. We’re trying to identify areas where we can improve; we’re focused on raising the level of the players we have, and we’re already seeing that in some of them. We’ve brought in two high-caliber players who fit our needs perfectly, and we’re very happy with them.”

Self-assessment of the squad: “Players need to realize that they can shift the momentum with just two or three things. We’re seeing that. There are players who weren’t getting much playing time but are now making an impact, knocking on the door, and we’re ready to identify those who want to be part of the team.”

Granada: “We’re going all out to try to win. We know we’re playing against an opponent that has suffered only two losses in the last eleven or twelve matchdays. They compete well; we’re ready, and we have an obligation to give it our all to win. We can’t take any chances, and we have to be convinced that, if we bring all our strengths to bear, together with the fans, we can pull this off.”

Dani Rodríguez: “We take his natural strengths into account, but also the team's needs. He's played in many positions; he's versatile and has great quality. Depending on who he plays with, we'll position him on one side or the other—that synergy will help the team move forward. We shouldn't just analyze him, but the team as a whole.”

Wingers: “You’re facing an opponent with weaknesses that you have to identify. We have a roster with different profiles to handle any scenario.”

Asue: "In Burgos, we’d like to have another striker, to be more dangerous in the box, and he has the ability to finish. He still needs a little more rhythm; he’s making huge strides in his relationships with his teammates, and we’re thrilled that he can contribute tomorrow. We shouldn’t compare. He offers us different qualities: he’s powerful, handles himself well in scoring situations, has played on the right… We’re happy that he can contribute right away.”