Ceuta’s coach José Juan Romero warned on the eve of hosting Sporting de Gijón at Alfonso Murube that when the side stops watching opponents and sticks to its identity, it thrives. Can they keep the momentum?
Speaking at the press conference, Romero praised the 1‑2 Copa del Rey victory over Poblense, noting it was the first time since arriving in Ceuta that he’d seen a comeback. He added that knockout matches are tough because lower‑division teams must travel to hostile grounds and face stronger foes.
He stressed the cup win’s importance, saying advancing is a duty while a loss would suggest the competition isn’t a priority. Yet he reminded everyone that football rewards both victory and defeat alike.
Romero hopes the cup‑run energy will spill into the league clash, insisting the feelings from Thursday should fuel tomorrow’s game against Sporting and ride a wave of positivity.
Despite the 3‑1 defeat in Cádiz, the squad delivered perhaps the best first half of the Hypermotion era in two years, he observed. In the second half nerves crept in, causing unnecessary errors. For my money, that first‑half display shows Ceuta can compete with top sides.
When asked about captain César Gelabert’s absence, the Sevilla‑born manager said Ceuta isn’t in a habit of watching the opposition. “If we stare too much at rivals, we suffer; when we stop and become ourselves, we thrive,” he reiterated.
Nevertheless, he lauded Gelabert’s importance, calling him a decisive Segunda División talent and wishing a swift recovery. Will Gelabert return in time to help Ceuta chase promotion?