C.D. Leganés coach, Asier Garitano, spoke in a press conference this Wednesday ahead of the Pepineros' 13th game of the LaLiga Smartbank season against U.D. Almería at 21:00 at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos.
The manager confirmed the squad's absences during last game would be ongoing for Friday's fixture, which brings the total number of unavailable players up to ten, including Rubén Pardo's suspension: "Of course, I would like to have all the missing players back, they're a growing number but also all valuable players, but I believe we can field a competitive team despite these limits. We don't expect any returns to match fitness, perhaps with Bustinza, who is the closest, but who's to say? Fede Vico has had his own struggles in the last few weeks, but he's back to it and I think he's ready to progress".
"We have a chance to prove ourselves against the best team in the division"
Speaking on Friday's encounter, he stated that "each match presents a challenge you have to face, but it's when things are going badly that you have to be diligent. Our problems are what they are, if you dwell on them they become excuses, and that won't help us. Pardo's suspension, Bárcenas' injury... there have been many weeks we've dealt with absences. But what I hold onto is the belief that we can play a good game in Almería".
Asier believes that "the clash will be good for us, whatever the result. We have a chance to prove ourselves against the best team in the division, who have been very consistent. We have to approach the game with the mentality to compete in every corner and to step out onto the pitch with confidence. We need to improve our defensive work, make sure we play a complete game, be bold, press their goal... We need to believe and work for it".
"We need to keep believing, working hard and performing well"
Regarding the club's atmosphere, the manager said that: "This is still a game, but I have the trust of the players, the coaching staff and all the people around us. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but you need to keep believing, working hard and performing well. There will be some players who will be happier and others less so, but overall I do feel their trust in our system".
Finally, the coach expressed that "each one of us has to give their all for us to move out of this situation, we have to be prepared and our job is to make sure that everyone knows the score. Those are the values that I have been taught and that's how it's going to be", he concluded.
