Football Presse

Castro frustrated as Osasuna and Levante share spoils in goalless draw

·By Carlos Volcano
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Castro frustrated as Osasuna and Levante share spoils in goalless draw

Levante/X.com

Osasuna and Levante played out a goalless draw at El Sadar, with Luís Castro finding far more encouragement than the week before at Espanyol.

Neither side could find a breakthrough in Pamplona, with visiting goalkeeper Mathew Ryan the outstanding performer as Osasuna dominated large spells without ever finding a way past him.

Osasuna head coach Luis Miguel Ramis felt his side lacked the final touch to turn control into goals.

"We lacked fluidity and circulation," he said, before adding: "Keeping a clean sheet pleases me, because it means there has been good defensive organisational work. As for the final minutes, that's when we stretched and they found us between the lines. Offensively, we lack fluidity, ease and daring."

Ramis felt the match should have gone his side's way, and praised his team's overall structure.

"We were good in structure," he said. "The game called for control at the start, but the pitch didn't help much. The idea was to look for a more controlled game rather than one about exploiting space. We saw plenty of the things we've been working on."

He struck a broadly positive tone despite the missed opportunity.

"We came away with good feelings, but knowing we still have to keep taking steps forward," he continued. Asked about some whistles from the home crowd during a stretch of the match, Ramis was direct: "That's something we have to change ourselves. I've seen a lot of support and applause, but on some occasions they are fully within their rights. What matters is having the ability to stay focused on the game."

For Levante, head coach Luís Castro left with far better feelings than after last week's trip to Espanyol.

"It's a different thing," he said of his side's overall performance. "We had the clearest chances and we had identity." The Portuguese also confirmed the departure of Kareem Tunde and left the door open to further sales, as well as the possible arrival of fresh faces, "as long as they improve the team."

Castro drew a clear contrast with the display at Espanyol the previous week.

"It's a different thing. We played away, on a very difficult pitch, and we fought to try to win. The clearest chances were ours and we had identity. By improving the tactical situations a little and the players who have arrived, when they've had more time, everything will improve."

Asked about registered players who did not feature, he explained his team selection:

"Thiago played from the start and wasn't registered. The team was doing well and we made the changes to freshen things up. We were in the opponent's half and they were playing long balls. We were camped in their box and had more attacking situations than they did. That's why we didn't make changes. The team was doing well, but the ones who have arrived need time to be with us."

On Tunde specifically, Castro said: "I think he will leave. I don't know if it's confirmed, but he will leave. I'm not too worried about that." Asked whether the draw was a fair result, he added: "The result is fair, and I think that if one team had won, it would have been us. But the result is fair. They also had some situations, but I think we had the clearest ones."

Castro also addressed the unavailability of Yanis Musuayi because of a past suspension.

"He hasn't played because of a sending-off, but I don't understand it. He had a sending-off and after being suspended, he played in Belgium. I don't understand that. After the suspension, he played, and now I can't. I don't understand this. If you play in a competition and now you're suspended, I don't understand this. I wanted to have him on the bench because he's a player who has worked very well."

Assessing the opposition, Castro said: "It's a team that has quality. Individually they are very strong and the forwards have a lot of quality. Collectively they will grow. At some moments in the match they hurt us and I think it's a team that will have a normal season."

On the squad's needs following Tunde's departure, he pointed to financial constraints.

"First of all, we have financial fair play, which doesn't help. The club is doing everything it can to find solutions. If we have opportunities, until the market closes we remain open, but signing players just for the sake of it, we don't want that. We depend on the league and fair play. We're happy for Kareem, who has worked very well and deserves it."

Asked about a possible sale of Carlos Álvarez, Castro said: "Everyone can leave. Carlos hasn't had minutes because I decided it. We needed other things for today's match, but all of Levante's players, and me too, are prepared to leave. It's a situation of one or the other. The market is open. If there are good offers, one or the other can leave."