Larcamón says his foundations are not wavering after derby defeat

“I don’t feel that my foundations are wavering,” Larcamón said after the defeat in the derby the previous Sunday. Sporting coach Nicolás Larcamón believes his side are still three points off the playoff places and that “everything needs to be put into perspective, beyond the noise”.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s match against Celta Fortuna, he acknowledged that Sporting had let slip “a very beautiful opportunity to achieve something spectacular” in their latest round at Tartiere. He also made his resolve clear: “Those who know me know what I’m made of.”

Larcamón did not play down the impact of the defeat. Losses like that “cut deep” and make for painful weeks, he admitted, while calling for the team to “be measured without avoiding responsibility”. In his view, being carried along by outside noise means “falling into the trap of losing focus on the work”.

The coach also addressed Nacho Martín’s situation. Martín was called up for the derby but did not play because of an injury “in the meniscus area”, which is expected to keep him out for “a few weeks”. Larcamón explained that he included him in the squad despite his inability to play because Martín is listened to in the dressing room, is “an added value” and is “very important”.

For the upcoming match, the coaching staff are doing “everything possible” to have Colombian forward Juan Otero available. If that is not possible, the aim is for him to be ready “next week”. Argentine forward Alejo Sarco, meanwhile, is expected to be in the squad despite fluid building up in his knee early in the week.

On the pitch, Larcamón admitted that the attack was on his mind: offensive production “is falling short”, and the team need to make better decisions in the final third. He nevertheless praised the “very good consistency in defence” across the first seven rounds.

Finally, he described Celta Fortuna as a “demanding, intense, very dynamic” opponent that plays with “the boldness of a side with little to lose”. Larcamón said the absences could also offer “a very good opportunity to show the value of the group”.