Igor Oca: “It's time for us to take a step forward”

C.D. Leganés head coach Igor Oca appeared at a press conference on Friday ahead of the pepinero's match against Córdoba C.F. on Saturday (2:00 p.m.), which is part of Matchday 26 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION.

The coach provided the following update ahead of the match:

Absences: “There are some injuries we’re evaluating, and we’ll wait until we make the final decision. Pulido and Ignasi Miquel are out due to suspension. Let’s hope no one else gets suspended at the last minute.”

Away results: "Every game is a different story. We played a fantastic second half in Albacete to win a key match a month ago, and we’re getting closer and closer to what we want. It wasn’t like that in Castellón; in Burgos, we played toe-to-toe and at times were better than the opponent, but they proved better in certain competitive situations. We lost a typical Burgos game—we were outplayed in many aspects, but they came away with the win. We believe we’re at the point where we need to take that step forward against a brave opponent who’s tough to beat on their home turf. We’re in good form, we’re aiming for more, and this is an incredible opportunity to capitalize on it.”

Top-tier rivals: “We can’t hide. We have to take it one game at a time, but being competitive against these kinds of teams shows you that you can match their level. These are crucial matches for building confidence and fueling the excitement that comes from knowing we’re ready. If you don’t succeed, the competition tells you that when you have that chance, you don’t achieve what you set out to do. It’s a pivotal match for us.”

Rayo-Atlético on Ontime Butarque: “As a coach, I have enough on my plate to focus entirely on winning our match. We’ll be there and try to make it our game. The club has made its resources available to a neighboring club, and if it can help someone in need, it does so.”

Change from the first-leg match: "The opponent still possesses the same qualities of being brave and proactive with the ball, which creates opportunities to advance. It’s a terribly complex team. I had two training sessions, and now we’ve had two months to put our ideas into practice, which helps me make better decisions. We had a lot of players out for that match—ten, if I recall correctly—and now we have many more players available thanks to everyone’s hard work, and that increases the competition.”

Duk: "He's available. He is this week, and he was last week. Decisions are made for the good of the team, depending on who we're playing. His performance is improving, and every player has to give his all to make the starting lineup. We know he’s very important and we want to count on him; we’re treating this as business as usual. He’s training with great enthusiasm; there’s absolutely no sign that he’s upset, but I understand if he is, because everyone wants to play as many minutes as possible. He’s coming off that injury and that suspension, but he’s a very important player for us."

Jorge Sáenz: “When I arrived, he was dealing with a somewhat unusual injury that didn’t rule him out of the squad. He’s been training well for some time now, and it’s entirely up to the coach to choose the starting eleven. Right now, we’re selecting other teammates whom we believe can provide us with optimal performance. We’re happy with his contribution as captain off the field, and we consider him very important.”

Vestuario: “I’m focusing on the Córdoba match and building on that in the next game against Cultural. It’s hard to look any further ahead. If we can maintain consistency in our results, we’ll see. We’re resilient, and we’re going to approach the match competitively, just as we always have. We’re getting closer every day to finding the answers to those situations that tip the balance one way or the other.”

The pitch at Ontime Butarque: “It's holding up really well. We've increased our training sessions at the stadium due to the rain, and it's holding up well. If that weren't the case, the club wouldn't be offering its facilities. We're not worried; the stadium is in good condition, and we don't think this will cause any problems for us.”

Surprises in the starting lineup: “The goal is to ensure that those in the best condition get to play. There may be changes, but we want to give continuity to those who are performing well. Even if lineups repeat, we’re open to evaluating as many players as possible.”

Juan Cruz: "He’s a player who has given us a lot. We hope he can consistently deliver the performance he gave against Real Sociedad ‘B,’ which was very good. On other days, he contributes in different ways—providing assists, creating opportunities. We’re working with him; he’s calm and making significant defensive contributions. If we believe he’s the right choice, he’ll play, and if we believe a teammate can contribute more, he’ll start on the bench. There are five substitutions, and the player has to understand that if he comes off the bench, it’s of vital importance." 

Relief for winning at home: "We value the process. In soccer, people judge based on the result; we’re in a super-competitive league and we have to go after them. Winning at home makes it much easier for the fans—who have always supported us—to do so. Away from home, we’re getting closer to where we want to be, but everything will go better once we start winning. We have to give 100% to earn points, and that’s what we need to do if we want to aim higher. We have to go out and win those points we haven’t been able to get in our last two away games.”