In the buildup to the match between Ceuta and Castellón, Pablo Hernández conveyed a sense of calm, conviction, and ambition, emphasizing that the team is in good spirits despite their recent setback. The coach noted a positive week of training, with the squad “fully focused, training at a high intensity, and eager for the match to arrive,” and confirmed the encouraging progress of Diego Barri, who has been gradually integrating into the group. His availability will be decided in the coming hours.
Regarding the opponent, Hernández anticipated a demanding and highly competitive contest. He described Ceuta as a brave team with the ball, featuring deep-lying full-backs and dangerous attackers, and singled out their striker Marcos as a troublesome presence for any defense due to his persistence and spatial awareness. “Even though they have nothing at stake in the standings, they will want to win at home and give their fans a victory,” he warned, convinced that no concessions will be made.
The Castellón coach defended his team’s performance against Córdoba and acknowledged that the key issue was a lack of decisiveness in both penalty areas. “We created more than the opponent, but football is decided in the areas. We weren’t decisive in either ours or theirs,” he explained, adding that this week’s focus has been on improving decision-making and converting offensive volume into goals. He also contextualized the drop in defensive solidity compared to earlier stages: “We play offensively, leave spaces, and the level of the rivals is high. Even so, the objective is to score one more goal than the opponent.”
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With the final stretch in sight, Hernández refused to dwell on calculations and called for a game-by-game approach. He highlighted the journey taken and reminded everyone of where the club started, urging the team to enjoy and compete without fear. “These opportunities don’t come around often in football. We have to enjoy them, give everything, and fight as far as we can go,” he stated, convinced that the level shown by the team allows them to aspire to everything through hard work and determination.