Luis Carrión: “It's a victory, and we have to appreciate what we have”

C.D. Leganés head coach Luis Carrión held a press conference following Tuesday’s match against Trival Valderas, part of the first round of the 2026/27 Copa de S.M. El Rey, which ended in a 0-1 victory.

The Blue-and-White coach assessed the match as follows:

Turning point: “We’d like to express our condolences to Luca and his family. We send a big hug to his parents. It’s a victory, and we have to appreciate what we’ve achieved. We weren’t able to close out the game; we dominated, as expected, but we didn’t score the second goal, and that creates uncertainty. It’s a shutout victory, and we’re moving forward.”

End to the losing streak: “There have been better games that we didn’t win, like against Mallorca. The team did things right, and what matters is the collective effort. We’re all working hard; in training, they have an incredible attitude, and it has to pay off. We’re going to build on this first victory and focus on getting the three points on Friday.”

Jorge Martínez: “He played a very good game. He’d been doing well in training and held his own against the first-team players. His motivation has been high, and it shows—he played a very good game, and I really liked what I saw. He’s been training with us since I arrived because we were without Tejero, and he’ll continue with us. He’s serious about his work and has the skill.”

Playing Time for Everyone: “We tried to field the best possible starting eleven while respecting our opponent, who does a lot of things well. The win was important—to break the losing streak and start thinking positively about many things. We didn’t manage to seal the deal, but we did a good job. We have to try to put in another strong performance on Friday and win.”

Mental importance: “With this kind of victory, people tend to think we just won 0-1, but we competed well. The opponent does things very well. I was impressed by a lot of players on the team, and to start winning, we have to build on a foundation—be consistent in our effort and work—and let that show on Friday.”

Millán and Morata: “They played the other day, and hopefully they can play many games together if they maintain this level. They’re on a really good streak. We have to balance the rest of the lineup to make sure the best players are on the field.”

Lack of confidence: “We’ve been sloppy in some areas—the other day as well. We had seven clear chances that didn’t result in goals. Millán wanted to score them—Soko, Millán’s header, the late counterattacks. You have to take that moment to make the right choice, and sometimes results give you that opportunity. I’m positive; I believe in the team’s work and level of play, and we’ll try to build confidence so that it translates into results. It’s one more small step, and Friday has to be another one.”

Morata’s Experience: “First and foremost is the human aspect, and he’s a top-notch guy in every way—in his behavior at practice, in helping teammates who don’t play as much. That adds a lot to the locker room. He has to help us, score goals, and help the others gain confidence. His role has been spectacular.”

Players who played 90 minutes: “If you have a big goal in mind—which is to win on Friday—tiredness doesn’t exist. The players who played today can play on Friday, and I’m sure they’ll be fine.”