Igor Oca: “We're going to give it our all to seal the deal in Cádiz”

C.D. Leganés head coach Igor Oca addressed the media this Friday in a press conference ahead of the crucial match the "pepinero" side will play this Sunday (18:30 CET) against Cádiz C.F. at the JP Financial Stadium, corresponding to matchday 41 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION.

The manager assessed the current situation and the upcoming fixture as follows:

Absentees: "Jorge Sáenz and almost certainly Leiva, who will likely not be able to travel."

Match dynamics: "Every single match is complex to handle. Huesca came here to secure points; they managed to stay alive and made things difficult for us with their low block and back five. We weren't aiming for that outcome, but that's how it turned out. It was a really tough game, which is normal when you reach this stage of the competition."

A final in Cádiz: "We saw it last matchday; it is complicated. We have an obligation to work hard to seal our objective. We cannot risk everything on a single card; we are playing against an opponent in a similar situation, and the other teams are going to push their options to the limit. We are going to fight to the death against Cádiz, knowing that we could potentially face the trouble of dealing with the final matchday, but our entire focus is on Cádiz."

Playing for a draw: "We don't have the option to play for a draw; we won't do it, and it's simply unfeasible. With the margins being so slim, that is not within anyone's reach. We have to go out and compete, knowing that a draw is useful to us, but we must play to win the match."

Match preparation: "They are a direct rival. If they beat us, they overtake us. We have prepared for this as a game where we must exploit our strengths, which have been less visible lately, and with the clear goal of winning. We will need to manage our emotions well, which is just as important at this stage because there is a lot at stake. The players have trained keeping the importance of this match in mind, and that gives us the conviction that we will achieve it."

Managing the situation: "The motivation has to come from the player. Out of respect for the club and as professionals, nobody wants a relegation on their resume, and that has to serve as motivation to escape danger. Beyond that, we have tools as a coaching staff to guide them, but the match itself should motivate you 100% to give your maximum."

Message to the fans: "We all wanted to get the job done on Monday. We got a point that allows us to maintain the gap, but it doesn't grant us mathematical survival, and that point was thanks to the fans. They are going to support us to the fullest, and for us, that is a clear fuel that will be fundamental. They help us, it will be the same in this final away game, and we will try to make the most of it to finish well."

Player motivation: "Every individual is different, and the way they take things varies. There are factors that escape our control, and all of it makes match management different. The game itself should make you perform at your best, but sometimes you also need to provide an external nuance depending on the situation."

Team performance: "With two games left, this is not the time to make assessments. That will be done at the end of the season. The players want this. You notice when a player isn't invested, and these players want it. We have entered a complex phase of the league with a very high level of competitiveness. It is proving difficult for us to meet the demands of the competition, but we expect to finish it well."

A draw as a good result: "The ultimate goal is to avoid relegation. We could reach the final matchday playing for our survival, and we have to face that reality. We must put all our strength into Cádiz to avoid taking it to one more matchday. I would sign for a draw right now just so everyone can rest easy, secure our place in the Second Division, and from there, identify what happened during the season."

Franquesa: "He made some squad lists because his willingness to help is immense. He helped us reach this position by stringing together a brutal run of matches with a workload nobody expected and with good performances. There isn't a specific injury, but rather discomfort that occasionally prevents him from being in peak condition. He is doing quite well, and we will decide whether he plays or not. He is available, and we can select him for these final two matchdays."

The traveling fans: "We are living through this together. If anyone at the club takes their foot off the accelerator, we could transform a difficult situation into a grave and critical one. It is worth making that final push, despite the difficulties and the process we find ourselves in, to achieve a goal that might not be the one we had at the start of the season, but it is the one right in front of us. Not everyone is prepared for it. The fans need to feel important because they are fundamental to us. They have every right to be upset with the situation, but they feel important and I know they will show up. We hope to share our survival with those 380 fans who are traveling and with the rest back here."