Igor Oca: "We have the obligation to increase the distance to achieve the goal and the first challenge is tomorrow"

C.D. Leganés head coach Igor Oca spoke this Thursday in the pre‑match press conference ahead of the game that the pepinero side will play on Friday (18:30) against R.C. Deportivo at the ABANCA‑RIAZOR Stadium, corresponding to Matchday 38 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION. 

The coach assessed the situation ahead of the match as follows: 

Absences: "Cissé, Marvel and Guirao are suspended. Melero is much better, but we’ve decided that he won’t be part of the squad. Franquesa and Leiva have some discomfort that prevents them from taking part, as well as Jorge and Peña, who we hope will complete next week and be available for the home match."

Defence: "We may repeat some of the line‑ups we’ve used recently. Absences have been a constant. We’ll adjust according to the players we have available, who all have a good level. The other day we included Andrés Campos, and we could also do so with Pulido. We’ll face a demanding game plan."

Pulido: "Because it’s a complicated position in terms of changes, we hope he can get minutes soon. If he has to play, he will, and we hope he performs well."

Mood: "We can’t hide. There were matches that slipped away from us, and at home we had only lost one game in 2026. We’re a team that usually concedes few goals, and letting in four surprised everyone. It darkens the perception of the match. We’ve analysed things thoroughly despite the short turnaround between games, and we’ve tried to create as many certainties as possible to compete well in A Coruña. It hurt, but it also shows that there are many areas for improvement. We’ll try to arrive in the best possible condition to win a match that we may really need."

Gap to relegation: "We don’t want it to shrink. Motivation can come from positive things, but it should also be there when things aren’t going well. We’re in a situation where we can’t allow ourselves to be in a worse position in order to react. We have the obligation to increase that gap to achieve our objective. The first challenge is tomorrow."

Intensity: "Las Palmas and Andorra subject you to repeated and continuous efforts, and we didn’t reach that level. That shows we have to give more. The only objective is to compete in the best possible way with our tools and get the points we need."

Club support: "That daily contact with the sporting management is part of everyday life—we’re always in conversation. After the match the players met to talk about certain things, they passed on some points to us, and that’s important for us."

Atmosphere at Riazor: "We’ve faced similar situations in Málaga with even fewer points of difference. We managed to sustain a competitive match with chances to win. I trust that tomorrow we’ll continue to behave well in those situations."

Defensive options: "When analysis is done afterwards, everything seems easier. At the time we talked about situations that could arise, and we’ve been able to play with Lalo, Marvel and Ignasi, and we’ve managed. The performances have been good. I’m happy with what I have. Absences force you to adjust, and we still have a lot to do and time to do it."

Feelings: "The most important thing for players and the coaching staff is to manage emotions well. You get angry, you feel disappointed, but very quickly you move into a position where you’re ready to turn things around. Within the complexity, you have to have the best possible attitude. The team is alive, and we’re in a league where several teams have come through situations like this. We have the opportunity to turn it around against Deportivo, and the excitement of being able to do so. We arrive well prepared."