Levante head coach Luís Castro has urged his team to stay focused and keep working hard after their crucial victory over Celta Vigo, warning that complacency could be fatal in their fight for La Liga survival.
Speaking after the 3-2 win at Balaídos, the Portuguese manager expressed his satisfaction but stressed that the job is far from over. “If anyone thinks it’s all done, they are lost,” Castro said. He emphasized that the players know they must keep a “cool head and a warm heart” to achieve results like the one in Vigo.
Castro has always believed the team would avoid relegation. “I think this team does not deserve to go down. They have quality and fight for everything. Not just the Levante fans, but the whole football world sees it. It was important to win away because we had three games left, two of them on the road, and we needed points. Now we must continue working because it’s not over. The league is competitive, and everyone is picking up points.”
Reflecting on two comebacks in recent matches, Castro said: “The players know bad things can happen in games, but if they stay together and focused, anything is possible in football. That’s why we love this sport. If you believe and keep a cool head with a warm heart, things like today can happen.”
On Levante moving out of the relegation zone, Castro added: “I don’t need to convince them—they’ve known from the start that it’s important to be safe by matchday 38. It’s not just now. There are many games left this matchday. We’re out of the drop zone for moments. If the matchday ends and we’re safe but then think it’s done, we’re lost. They know we’ll fight as long as possible. I promised the fans the team would die for the badge, and that won’t change.”
When asked about long-range shots as a tactic, Castro explained: “At some points, it was possible to sink Celta, and we knew we could shoot from distance and hurt them. I talked to some players about shooting from outside, but not specifically to Arriaga and Dela. They knew that, and the players were focused on it.”
Praising winger Brugué, Castro said: “He deserves everything. He has an incredible mentality and works like a beast. He trains hard and deserves it after his injury nightmare. He’s come in very well and is working well. He didn’t have a preseason or anything, and even though we haven’t had high-quality training due to the schedule, he’s at a good level and fully deserves it.”
To the fans, Castro sent a simple message: “I don’t think I need to say anything. Let them continue as they have been. It’s impossible for them to do more than they’ve already done. Even when we were losing, they gave everything. I can’t ask them to do anything more because they’ve given it all.”
Asked if he now feels more certainty about survival, Castro replied: “I don’t believe more. I believe the same. I believed from the first day, and I still believe. If I hadn’t believed, I wouldn’t have come. I thought about things that could change and improve, so the truth is I have the same level of belief as before.”