Igor Oca: “We need to win, and that has to help us reach our peak level of concentration so we can play well.”

C.D. Leganés head coach Igor Oca appeared at a press conference on Friday ahead of the team’s match against Real Sporting on Sunday (4:15 p.m.) at Estadio El Molinón - Enrique Castro “Quini,” as part of Matchday 28 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION.

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

Absences: “We’ll be without Rubén Peña, Jorge Sáenz, and Pulido.”

Naim: “I think he’s ready. Dani has arrived, and he’s contributing solid minutes in his position, which has increased competition. He doesn’t show frustration in training, and he makes it clear that deciding who to start is getting tougher, but there’s no issue with him.”

What to expect from the match: "Games against Sporting don’t stray far from the script you’d expect. They’re pragmatic, they control possession, and they’re strong in transitions with Dubasin and Otero, who play more central roles. They have good positional play, and defensively they compete well, though they’ve conceded a few goals lately. El Molinón is a tough place to play. It’ll be a fiercely contested match where the details in the penalty areas will be decisive. It was like that at home; they caught us off guard in one of those transition situations and took the three points."

Winning as a step forward: "The points you actually have are what define you. The reality is that we’re three games away from the playoffs and one and a half games away from relegation, and we have to be realistic. Our performance last matchday was far from what we wanted. We need to win, and that has to bring us to a peak level of concentration so we can put together a good game and win it. From there, we’ll look at what lies ahead and where we stand.”

Dani Rodríguez and Asue: “Dani has had more playing time from the start because the conditions under which he arrived are different. With Dani, we realized we could count on him starting in the second week and give him consistent playing time. He contributes to the team and can play in different positions. Luis participated in the Africa Cup of Nations after the break, so we had to go through a preparation period. He’s already played, scored a goal, and is available alongside Diego and Álex for that forward position.”

Signing of Alfred Gøthler: “We haven’t stopped to think about it much. We’re aware of the information; we met him when he arrived and saw his professionalism—he hit the gym right away to work out. When the time comes, we’ll assess his situation, but he’s a player for next year.”

Workweek: “We can't hide from it; we can't afford to play a first half like the one we did. Every player is different, and perhaps there was some overconfidence stemming from our strong home form and recent wins. It was a mistake. There's no need to dwell on it—every team is incredibly competitive—so we have to take responsibility and be honest. This can't happen again; I feel responsible as the coach, and so do the players.”

Tactical analysis: “Players have a natural tendency to perform based on the game plan. Against Cultural, we aimed to attack spaces in the second line and with the fullbacks, but it didn’t work out as we’d hoped. That match called for certain things, and this one calls for others, so there will be adjustments in a different direction.”

Possible changes: “After how poorly we played, salvaging that point was important. We have no problem using the players we believe are best suited for the match we have to play. That’s what we convey to the players; they know they have to be disappointed about not starting, but they have to be ready to help when their turn comes.”

Rubén Peña is out: "It's not an injury that will heal quickly. He would play even if injured; he's a key leader, and his absence is a significant blow. We have several options to replace him; the other day, Figueredo stepped in and performed well, considering what he's been going through since his injury and without warming up. We have Lalo, who has played in that position, Lucas Macazaga, and Leiva, who has contributed in four matches in that role. We’re covered, though we acknowledge it’s a significant loss.”

Asue as a possible starter: “Scoring goals is important for forwards. He’s been involved in the goals we’ve scored in the few minutes he’s played; we see him improving physically. We didn’t want to rush him into situations he couldn’t handle, which is why we’re taking care of him. We know he’ll deliver for us.”

Juan Cruz: “He’s another key player on the roster. We’ve made that clear on many occasions. In the last match, he started on the bench, and the coach decided not to bring him on. Now we’re in a new situation; if we think he can contribute, we’ll put him in, and if not, we won’t hesitate—we’ll do what’s best for the team.”