Castro's dream debut: 'I'll work 24 hours a day to save Levante if needed'
New Levante boss Luis Castro made an immediate impact with a stunning victory at the Sánchez Pizjuán, offering fresh hope in the relegation battle.
New Levante manager Luis Castro couldn’t have asked for a better start, securing a shock away win at Sevilla that breathes new life into their survival hopes.
Dream debut in Seville
Talk about hitting the ground running! Castro’s men pulled off a proper upset at the Sánchez Pizjuán, keeping a clean sheet and showing the kind of fight that’s been missing from Levante’s performances this season.
The Portuguese gaffer was buzzing after the match, emphasizing how his side came to win rather than just defend: “We wanted to attack and we came here to win,” he explained, highlighting his commitment to positive football despite Levante’s precarious position.
Youth gets a chance
Castro made some bold selection choices that paid dividends:
- Academy products featured prominently, with Espí coming off the bench to make a significant impact
- Players previously getting splinters from the bench were given opportunities to shine
- The new boss insisted selection is based purely on training performance - a clean slate for everyone
“We work during the week with all players equally,” Castro explained, suggesting meritocracy will be his approach moving forward.
Salvation mission begins
When asked about Levante’s survival chances, Castro refused to make grand promises but instead committed to maximum effort: “If I need to work all 24 hours of the day to save us, I will.”
That’s music to the ears of the Levante faithful, who’ve had their fair share of brown bread (dead) hopes this season.
Tactical tweaks
Interestingly, Castro revealed his first week of training focused more on offensive aspects, though with careful attention to defensive transitions - knowing Sevilla’s counter-attacking threat.
The approach worked a treat as Levante looked organized without sacrificing attacking intent. For a manager with just one week of training under his belt, the tactical cohesion was impressive.
Fan connection
Castro made a point of acknowledging the supporters’ importance: “We need them. When we play at the Ciutat they must be with us. There will be difficult moments, but football is collective.”
With this result, he’s certainly given the fans something to shout about. The real test will be maintaining this momentum, but for now, Levante supporters can enjoy a rare moment of joy in what’s been a challenging campaign.