C.D. Leganés coach Paco López didn't mince words after his team's frustrating 2-2 draw against R.C. Deportivo. Speaking after the match at the Ontime Butarque Stadium, López expressed his disappointment at dropping points.
Dominant First Half, Disappointing Finish
"We had a very good first half again, deservedly going up 2-0," López stated. "In the second half, while not much was happening, they have talented players who pushed harder. The 2-1 goal really hurt us, and then everyone saw what happened. I don't need to explain it." He continued, "We leave with the feeling of having lost two more points. Both this week and last week, we were better than our opponents, and the feelings are getting better and better. We had the victory in our hands again, and it slipped away due to a detail, which is a shame. The fans who came today, filling the stadium, didn't deserve this. They feel identified with how we are doing things, and it's a pity."
Controversial Penalty Decision
López was particularly critical of the penalty awarded to R.C. Deportivo, which led to their equalizing goal. "It's very clear," he said, referencing what he thought was a poor decision. "Referees have a very difficult task, a very complicated job, but there are situations I don't understand. We have the VAR tool and messages sent out that penalties have to be very clear. It's outrageous."
He acknowledged the difficulty of refereeing but suggested external factors might be influencing decisions. "Acknowledging the difficulty, there are situations where they are influenced and affected because they believe they have given us something. It's a shame; in such an evenly matched football, these things shouldn't happen. We are left with two fewer points, but we have to keep working. It's another factor that influences results, successes, mistakes, and these kinds of details. We have to be optimistic, and other times it will go our way."
Juan Cruz's Promising Return
Despite the frustration, López highlighted the positive performance of Juan Cruz. "He had been training well in recent weeks, but there was uncertainty about what was going to happen with him. This week his future was resolved, and we decided to give him those minutes. He is going to be a very important player for us."