“In some positions we are a bit fair”
A preseason comes to an end that gives way to the official competition and the first milestone, the date with Levante in the City of Valencia on Friday, August 12. SD Huesca has closed a cycle of six friendlies with the balance of two victories, against Calahorra (0-1) and FC Andorra (3-1), tie with Osasuna Promesas (1-1) and Nástic de Tarragona (2-2) and defeats with Osasuna (4-3) and Eibar (1 -3). Cuco Ziganda has employed 29 footballers and this Friday he has made a positive balance without hiding that the squad has gaps despite the arrivals of Kento Hashimoto, Juan Villar and Óscar Sielva in this last week.
After the win against Andorra, the Navarrese coach reviewed all current issues and He has been “happy” when a month of preparation has been completed with “the attitude of the entire squad, the young people and veterans. With your attention and disposition and the air that has been breathed all this time”. The negative note has resided in the physical setbacks of players like Cristian Salvador or Enzo Lombardo.
In sports and after six meetings with lights and shadows, “there has been everything”, but the team can see “some things that we are working on”. The one against Andorra has been “a different match due to the type of rival we are going to face. It has been good for us. From our style we have to adapt in defensive phases to different proposals from the opponents. The attitude with which the squad lives every day makes me very happy”.
It was a rival “very different from what the Second Division is, with a proposal for a lot of possession and it is difficult to take the ball from them. We have come out well against it. Other times other types of equipment have been seen”. Ziganda likes “many things” about SD Huesca with the ball and now “we have to maintain the level and the hunger in the search for the goal. It remains to be confirmed in the league.” The squad needs more players because “in some positions we are very fair, we know what the market is like and we are a little late. I am happy with the boys of the house and it has not been noticed, on the contrary. Some vindicating themselves and with personality”.
Ziganda expects a lot from Kento Hashimoto, who made his debut this Friday and played the entire second half against Andorra: “We know him from the references we have and we’ve seen him, so we have to compare him here. He has left interesting brushstrokes. It’s landing. She does not handle the language and will acclimatize. We have hope in him.”
The signing of Juan Villar, meanwhile, obeys that “upstairs we are very fair. Carlos Kevin is in pain. Of Sandro there is nothing to say. He is not available to train and not train. With Kanté we go little by little, he still has many days to prepare and he is still not at the physical level of the rest”. Against this background, “Juan Villar has a lot of experience in the Second Division, He has come with great enthusiasm. He hasn’t had game options in Almería for a couple of years and we hope to take advantage of his experience and success in front of goal”.
Something similar happens with Óscar Sielva, “he has experience and knows how to play football. It’s a matter of getting to know each other, knowing about our strengths and weaknesses and from there to making a great group to compete with all the enthusiasm in the world”. SD Huesca wants to incorporate two more central defenders but the market complicates these options. Ziganda, practical, has that recognized “there are more difficulties than normal and it’s costing”, but “there are some guys who are doing very well and are taking advantage of that opportunity. If signings don’t arrive, another one will come out and he’ll do just as well”.
The Navarrese has not ensured that this Friday will be very similar to the eleven that starts the league because there is a week ahead and the competition is high. “We also don’t have that many first-team players. In some positions, like wide and up, the competition is very great. I’m not saying yes or that it won’t be a similar lineup because I don’t know.” The youth squad could have a place in it in the center of defense Hugo Anglada, who “is taking advantage of those minutes. It is very good for him to play alongside Pulido, He has a spark and he is a footballer, he does not hide. I like players with energy and personality. If I like how to play, I don’t look at the card”.
The azulgranas will rest this weekend, given the initial idea of training on Saturday, and will return to training on Monday from 9.30 at the IES Pirámide. The next day they will return to work at the same time and at 13:30 they will leave for Valencia to develop a four-day mini-concentration with which to escape from the San Lorenzo festivities. While waiting for the adaptation of the new signings, the presence of Enzo Lombardo, Cristian Salvador and Kevin Carlos is weighed down by their respective injuries and it is unlikely that they will arrive in a while.