Levante UD head coach Luis Castro has highlighted the threat posed by Juanfran Funes's Málaga CF ahead of Sunday's clash at La Rosaleda. The Portuguese coach warned his team will suffer if they are not at their absolute best for the match, according to a report by Sport.es published this Friday. Sport.es first reported the story.
Castro analyzed the opponent they will face at the Málaga CF stadium. "We have been very focused on our way of playing, but also looking at Málaga CF, which is a very good team," stated the Granota boss. The Portuguese noted that the Blue and Whites have played three good matches at the start of the season, competing evenly against strong opponents, although in two of them they did not achieve the best result. Castro is confident that, given their quality, Málaga CF will earn more points as the competition progresses.
What did Luis Castro say about Málaga CF?
Luis Castro was full of praise for the project led by Juanfran Funes. He emphasized the importance of the Málaga CF youth academy, which supplies numerous players to the first-team squad, and predicted that this young block will grow and improve throughout the campaign. This bet on local talent is a hallmark of the club that is evident in the current squad. For the visiting coach, the match is very important for both teams in their aim to stabilize their position in the league standings.
How has Levante prepared for the match?
Levante UD has carried out a week of training with normal intensity and focus, but paying special attention to Málaga CF's playing characteristics. Castro made it clear that respect for the opponent must be accompanied by a peak performance level. "If we are not at one hundred percent, we are going to have a bad time," the coach declared. This warning reflects the seriousness with which the Valencia-based team approaches a always tricky away trip to La Rosaleda.
What is the mood in the Levante dressing room?
Beyond tactical analysis, Luis Castro wanted to highlight the good atmosphere within his group. He praised the unity and strong team spirit he perceives in the Levante UD dressing room. He described his players as good footballers and also as good people. He said that cohesion is visible both in training and off the pitch, an intangible factor that can make the difference in tight matches. This block will face a Málaga CF that, after this game, is scheduled to play against Racing de Ferrol in the next matchday, as per the fixtures list.
Málaga CF, for their part, approach the duel in high spirits despite results. The team has shown defensive solidity, conceding only three goals in their first four league matches. Also, striker Abel Ruiz is the team's top scorer in this early season, with two goals. The match against Levante UD will be played on Sunday at 18:00 at La Rosaleda.
