Luís Castro: Levante deserve more than the table shows ahead of Barcelona test
Levante boss Luís Castro is adamant his side have been hard done by in the standings as they prepare to host Barcelona in La Liga.
Levante manager Luís Castro fronted up to the press ahead of a proper tough one — Barcelona at home — and he wasn’t shy about making his feelings known on where his side actually stand in La Liga.
The table’s lying, apparently
Castro is convinced Levante are getting a raw deal from the standings. He’s pointed to a pattern of games where his side haven’t been dominated but have still come away empty-handed — dropped points in the fine margins rather than getting battered. In his view, no opponent has genuinely put Levante in their pocket since he took charge. That’s a bold claim, but not an unreasonable one if you’ve been watching them.
Barcelona — worst possible time
He’s under no illusions about what’s coming. Castro flagged that Barcelona are “one of the best teams in the world” and, crucially, that catching them right after a defeat — they lost at Girona — is actually the worst moment to face them. They’ll be wound up and focused. His tactical message was pretty clear:
- Keep possession losses to an absolute minimum
- Defend as a unit, not individuals
- Recognise that Barça’s spacing and movement is different to Real Madrid’s — so the game plan shifts accordingly
Shots on target — a work in progress
Castro addressed the question of getting the ball on net more often. He mentioned Pablo Martínez specifically as a lad with a good shot who unfortunately won’t feature due to injury. He’s been having conversations with players about pulling the trigger more, and he pointed to the Valencia game as evidence things are moving in the right direction. The message is simple: if you’re good at finishing, have a go.
Strikers not scoring? Not panicking
The forwards haven’t exactly been banging them in, but Castro’s relaxed about it. His argument is solid enough:
- Levante have scored nine or ten goals since he arrived
- They put two past Athletic Club while down to ten men — apparently a first for any side against Athletic in that situation
- Goals are coming from midfield and elsewhere because the strikers are creating space
- Against Villarreal, the hosts had all eleven men behind the ball — that tells its own story
He’d only be worried if the chances weren’t arriving. They are.
Olasa and Vencedor getting their dues
Castro had kind words for Olasa — technically sharp, defensively committed, and the assist for Paco’s goal the other day was all him. Vencedor also got a mention, with Castro highlighting his performance at the Bernabéu as one of his better outings in a Levante shirt. Midfield competition is fierce, which makes life harder for everyone in that department, not just him.
All in all, Castro came across as a manager who genuinely believes in what he’s building — even if the points tally isn’t fully reflecting it yet. Whether Barça give him a chance to prove that on the pitch is another matter entirely.