Levante UD defender Adrián de la Fuente 'Dela' delivered a stern self-critique following the team's 3-0 thrashing by Espanyol in their LaLiga season opener, as reported by Noticias Ciudadanas. The centre-back admitted the team lacked "competitiveness, intensity, creating more with the ball… everything" in a disappointing debut at the RCDE Stadium.
Espanyol secured the win with a double from Roberto Fernández and a third goal from Dolan. The defeat leaves Levante at the bottom of the standings from the off, with zero points and a minus-three goal difference. Dela offered no excuses, stating the collective performance was far below what is required for the competition.
What went wrong with Levante's defence?
Adrián de la Fuente focused on the serious defensive problems displayed by the team. Espanyol found it easy to create chances both from set-pieces and by attacking the space behind the defensive line. The third goal, finished by Dolan on a counter-attack, exemplified these shortcomings. The defender, a regular starter, believes these situations must be corrected immediately to avoid a repeat of such a poor showing.
The Levante squad, which you can view on our team page, is still adapting to the ideas of new manager Luís Castro. Dela acknowledged this assimilation process takes time, but the competition has already started and demands quicker answers. The coaching staff faced the match hampered by registration issues for several players, which limited the options available on the bench.
How do the pending registrations affect the team?
The administrative situation seriously conditioned preparations for the match. Levante travelled to Barcelona with numerous absences from the squad, a problem the player hopes is resolved soon. The aim is for Luís Castro to have a fuller squad with all his players registered for the upcoming fixtures. However, Dela was clear that these circumstances do not justify the poor display on the pitch.
The team needs to improve in practically all phases of play, especially in possession and chance creation. The reaction must start this week in training, with eyes on the next match. According to our fixtures list, Levante faces Mallorca next weekend at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, a key game to get back on track.
Who was the positive note from the debut?
The bright spot on a difficult night came from the academy. Marc Santos made his first-team debut for Levante UD at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest player ever to feature in an official match for the club. Dela openly praised the maturity of the young player. "He's a very intelligent boy for his age. He makes very few mistakes in training. He's earned it," stated the defender, assuring his debut wasn't solely due to circumstances.
His appearance is a point of satisfaction and a ray of hope for a club that traditionally bets on its youth system. Santos's historic debut came in the 83rd minute, replacing a teammate when the match was already beyond reach. Levante now faces an intense week of work to increase intensity, improve competitiveness, and progress with the ball, aware they cannot afford another performance like the one in Cornellà-El Prat. Levante UD's next league match is on Sunday, September 13th at 18:30.
