GARCÍA PIMIENTA: "THEY PRESS TOGETHER AGGRESSIVELY AND SO WE HAVE TO BE ALERT"

Xavi García Pimienta spoke at the pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow night's game at Butarque. He began by talking about injuries: "These are things that happen. Sometimes injuries seem to happen all at once but we're going to put out a competitive team. The worst thing that can happen to a player is to be injured and I feel bad for them, but we only have one more player out than the other day, Idumbo. The rest of the squad will be all the same as last time and we'll have a competitive team for such a demanding game against Leganés." One of those who will be in the squad is Marcao, who will look to bounce back after giving away a penalty last Sunday: "It was a surprise for everyone, with a player of his experience. It was pretty much game over, although we continued to attack. He knew he made a mistake. I'm sure it won't happen again, he's had a very good week and he's ready for tomorrow." 

On the strikers: "I've spoken to them the same as in the other weeks. They are the first people who want to score goals and I would be worried if we weren't creating chances to score. They have had chances, Iheanacho rushed the other day because he didn't know where the goalkeeper was. If we didn't have chances it would be a problem with the game, but we don't just focus on the responsibility of the strikers to score. Everyone has to be involved in those finishing moves. I see them training and finishing and that makes me relaxed. I know they're going to score goals because you either have the quality or you don't. It's just about letting go of those chances that haven't gone in and being clinical tomorrow." 

On Isaac Romero, he rejected claims that there has been a drop in his performance: "I don't see that Isaac has dropped off. He's a guy who has quality, wins duels, and battles with everyone without being the physically biggest player. He has one or two chances per game and brings a lot to the team. Not making the national team is not a step backwards because it's very difficult, but I'm happy with him. If we focus on goals, yes, but I see him happy, he trains well, he has chances and I am convinced, because I see his joy, that he is going to do well. He's already important, but he's going to be crucial by scoring goals this season." 

"Suso has a slight strain and won't be available tomorrow" 

Speaking on injuries, he believes there is no specific cause: "We are training as we did at the start of the season. We have all the data available on the GPS and we see the player workloads. It's true that injuries are occurring in games but I don't know why. The team is working well and we haven't had any alerts to indicate that something strange is going on. I don't know if it's bad luck. Something similar happened to us in Las Palmas and these are just things that happen in football. We have to keep working and not force things." 

Although he was expected to return, Suso will not be available for tomorrow: "He is following his recovery process. On Wednesday he did almost all the training and yesterday in the final part he felt a slight string. It's not an injury, but taking into account that the game is tomorrow and that next week there is no game, I hope that for the next game, he will be available to help us. We have to look for a solution, we have Isra, who had a problem the other day against Real Sociedad because of the moment he came off. If not, we'll bring in another player who can adapt." 

On international call-ups and Kike Salas making the Spain Under-21s squad: "I'm happy for Kike. I'm being unfair to him because he deserves to play more. He played a very good game the other day, he's been prepared during the week and when he's come on he's done very well. It shows the potential that the club has with the number of call-ups." Ejuke will however not be able to play for his country due to his injury: "He was playing well, it took him a while to get in but he was able to show his full potential. The injury came and there was a choice of whether or not to go for surgery. He has opted not to go for surgery and we hope that he will be back helping the team." Asked about the importance of Agoumé and Peque, he commented that "Everyone has to be ready. They are two young players although they have been professionals for a long time. There are games where they better or worse but they are important for the present and the future of the team. Everyone sees how difficult the Primera Division is. They have room for improvement, but they will continue to help us for sure’." 

In the final part of the press conference, he was asked about tomorrow's opponents: ‘It's a game in which if we're not focused and match the intensity, we won't have a chance. They have 11 points but we have to match that intensity because they press together aggressively, they win their duals and are strong out of possession. We have to be alert. It's a difficult stadium to win at against a side who were promoted and won 3-0 against Celta. The league is very difficult. We've talked about it, we're alert and we have to put it into practice. We have to demand a lot of ourselves because it will be a difficult game." 

Finally, he spoke about Lukebakio's performance: "Everyone has to perform at their highest level. I know Dodi and he had to be at his best. He is a difference-maker, he is a goalscorer.  It's difficult to get the ball off him and to play against him. When you give him that confidence and you demand it, because the style of play suits his characteristics, I think he feels comfortable. He's doing well but he still has room for improvement. He should be one of the best in LALIGA in his position and he has to contribute a lot more. Against Espanyol he did very well and against Real Sociedad he had to do more. It's not his fault because we all should have done more, but he has the quality and he has to contribute a lot more."