Luis García spoke to the media ahead of our trip to Granada this Monday evening. Find out what the boss had to say on the squad, opposition and the week of work. 

On his message to Granada and the week of preparation: “First of all, I send my warmest regards and all my strength and solidarity to Granada because they are going through a difficult time filled with suffering and uncertainty. I hope it all ends soon and that people can live in peace. As for the week, it’s been very good and calm, without any major setbacks. We’ve all experienced this uncertainty. We’re working so we can compete. The most important thing is to ensure people’s safety. They should go to enjoy themselves and not be afraid of anything. Beyond that, we’ve prepared for the game as usual, assuming it will be played.”

On the game itself: “The news we have is that the game is going to be played. The only determining factor is whether that safety can be guaranteed. I’ll say it again: the most important thing is to ensure everyone’s safety. Beyond that, it would be a b**** to not play because you need competitive minutes, continuity… If it were canceled, finding a friendly match would be difficult. Hopefully, that won’t happen.”

On the team's status: "We still have a long way to go. That's normal because it's a process. For some players, it's a different way of understanding the game. But we're taking it in stride, knowing that we're in the midst of that process and that the players are gradually coming to understand it, and that at the same time, we're going to continue competing well. In fact, the other day, even though it wasn’t our best game, we pulled it off because we’re a team that competes very well. We have to keep growing naturally, in terms of how we understand the game, because changing certain habits—without saying whether they’re good or bad—isn’t easy.”

On Granada CF: “They’re a very recognisable team. Their coach has been on the bench for a while, has a lot of experience, and gets the most out of his teams. The players have developed automatic responses and have a well-defined, clear style of play. They’re going to be a dangerous team. And at home, even more so.”

On Segunda Division: “No one gives you anything for free in football. In the Segunda Division, budgets, skill levels—nothing—matter. You have to compete every day because every opponent is ready to hurt you. And if you’re not up to par, they’ll beat you. In the Second Division, the competition is incredibly even. It’s important to focus on ourselves, compete better every day, be self-critical, and always look ahead.”

On whether Alex Sala can play alongside Pablo Torre: “Good soccer players can always play together. Alex has a slightly different style than Pablo. He’s a very well-rounded player; he joined the team a little later than the others, and I have no doubt that he’ll see a lot of playing time and that he’ll be important. Plus, he’s a game-changer on set pieces.”

On need for improvement in our play: “In every area. That’s the process we’ve been talking about. While we want to be proactive, play vertically, and keep possession… that understanding is a process the players have to go through step by step. The hardest part is having the talent we have. The rest is a process. It’s tough at first, but then it starts to click.”

On the transfer market: “We’re always prepared. The club is open to making improvements in all areas. The transfer market is open, and we have to deal with it naturally.”

On importance of winning away: “Home games are just as important as away games. Playing on the road is undoubtedly tougher, especially in the second half of the season. We have to be a team capable of winning on the road. And at home, together with our fans, we need to be strong. We have to give equal importance to home and away games and try to approach them with the same mindset and strategy.”

On possible departures: “I don’t have much time to think about that. There are things we can’t control. So, we can’t waste energy on it. We have to focus our energy on the players we have—who are eager, enthusiastic, and have made progress since we arrived.”

On Josep Cerdà: “He’s been doing much better this week. He’s trained completely normally and is available.”