Rubén Albés: “Our goal is to go into the next game with the aim of winning in Las Palmas” 

C.D. Leganés head coach Rubén Albés appeared Thursday at the press conference ahead of the match the Pepineros will play Friday (8:30 p.m.) against U.D. Las Palmas at Estadio Gran Canaria, as part of Matchday 4 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION 2026/27.

The Blue-and-White coach offered the following assessment of the team’s current situation ahead of the match:

Injuries and suspensions: “The situation remains the same as last week, with Raúl returning from suspension.”

Potential signings of free agents: “In principle, we consider the transfer window closed, provided there are no last-minute developments after this period.”

Beltrán’s Departure: “We would have liked him to stay with us; he was part of the first-team setup, and we were counting on him as our sixth center-back. But there was nothing we could do about it—Atlético paid his buyout clause. What this does tell us is that things are being done right in our youth system, and there are cases like Sule’s, who’s already seen some playing time.”

Leganés after the transfer window: “I’ve learned a great deal from the players and their relationships with one another. We’re still getting to know each other and trying to find the best balance between what we ask of them and their natural tendencies. They’ll surely show their strengths and weaknesses in the matches. These are new signings who have been arriving over the past few weeks, and we’re in the process of getting to know one another.”

Being labeled as title contenders: “I don’t care.”

Playing style: “I can’t speak about last season—those were different players, and I wasn’t the coach. I know what we’re working on: the behaviors in all phases of the game that are systematic and repetitive, and we want to do that more and more. And from there, we’ll grow as a team. We’ll make adjustments based on the opponent, but it’s a matter of repeating the things we believe we’re strong at.”

Excitement after the start: “From the inside, we talk about nothing but the next game. We’re excited to take on Las Palmas and win there, against a team built to be at the top of the table—they have six points, play great soccer, and have a lot of talent. Everything else is so far off that we have to enjoy this process. The most satisfying part isn’t the destination, but the journey, and that’s where we are.”

The Leganés He Wants: “I can’t know what kind of team we’ll be in the short term, because we still don’t know how certain players we’ll be bringing into the team will respond. It will take time, but we always have to keep improving.”

Winning without playing the best game: “We’re focused on picking up points. The closer you get to doing things as well as your opponent, the closer you are to winning, but I value picking up points even when you’re not at your best. Good teams are capable of doing that. The days when the game is more evenly matched and you’re still able to win give me a lot of confidence.”

Opening matches against teams expected to be at the top: “I don’t like narratives. We’ve played three games and earned seven points—it doesn’t matter who we played. It’s just three games. The narratives we coaches create sometimes make us give more importance to some opponents than others. That’s all well and good—the stats are there—but there are still thirty-nine matchdays left.”

Two trips to the Canary Islands: “I love the Canary Islands. I’ve had great experiences there—they’re cities where soccer is a way of life, with great stadiums. We have to go there and do well.”

Álex Sancris’s Position: “Option A: wing; option B: I’m not going to say.”

Goalkeeping: “Luca will start. It’s a pleasure to have two world-class goalkeepers like we do—among the best in the league. I don’t know if it’ll make them better, but it should. We’re open to the possibility of changes, just like at any other position. This is soccer, and I think that’s good news. We have to treat change as a natural part of the game.”

Expectations: “Nobody’s selling anything here; you buy what you want to buy. I’m satisfied with what we discussed initially. We’re all in this together—the fans, the journalists, the players, everyone. The point is that we have a plan; we’ve brought in players who can fill different roles, and I’m happy.”

Three-centerback defense: “It’s the system that works best for us, and we’re not going to change it.”

Montero: “He’s phenomenal; he’s really eager to play. There are several positions where he can play, but we’re going to rule out the wing-back option for him.”

Montero and Morata’s Status: “Their situations are a bit different. Montero is in great shape. Álvaro has been training with Como, and both are ready to get some playing time.”

Diawara’s Injury: “I think he’ll still be out for a few more weeks; his injury has been more serious than we expected, but we’re hoping to have him back soon. He’s working hard and eager to return—hopefully he’ll bring us energy, skill, and speed when he comes back.”

Solid defensive stats, though we’ve faced a lot of shots on goal: “I’m keeping an eye on everything. They’ve taken shots whenever they’ve had the chance; the next step is to evaluate expected goals, which tells us whether they’re taking a lot of shots that aren’t dangerous or few shots that are dangerous. Analyzing the data is important. We’re calm—in one of the games, we played with one fewer player for a long time. We can keep improving, knowing that we haven’t conceded any major chances.”

Morata as a game-changer: “Experience, quality, humility. The biggest message Álvaro Morata has brought to Leganés is that a top-tier Spanish soccer legend has come to contribute, to conduct himself well, and to get involved at the same level as a player from the reserve team like Sule, who’s moving up to the first team. When he’s that committed and helps out the way he does… It would be really foolish not to capitalize on that.”

Expectations: “That’s just drama from the outside. From the inside, we’re approaching the match against Las Palmas with the goal of winning it. We have to try to win games, get results. The league is incredibly tight—we see it every matchday. That’s the reality. I’ve been in the Second Division for many years, and anything can happen. It’s not about names, team crests, or fan bases… It’s about what happens on the field every matchday against every opponent. We’re not going to downplay the value of anything we do. If we get the three points, we’ll be very happy, no matter what. If we draw, so much the worse, and if we lose, we’ll be in trouble no matter who we’re playing, and we’ll have to improve.”

Thoughts following Morata’s signing: “I see people getting excited, especially after the season started. People are eager for soccer—to come to the stadium and have a good time, to see the team win games. It’s more about that than about Álvaro specifically.”

Assessment of the transfer market: “I’m happy, honestly.”