Román's Brilliance Justifies Draw Against Deportivo, Says Elche Coach

Elche’s trip to Riazor left a bitter taste, but manager Anselmi found solace in Leo Román’s commanding display between the sticks. The draw feels like two points dropped for a side that controlled nearly every facet of play against Deportivo, yet walked away with nothing to show for their superiority.

Román emerged as the match’s standout performer, his reflexes and positioning keeping Elche competitive when the visitors’ dominance should have translated into three points. In a season where fine margins separate contenders from also-rans, such performances from your goalkeeper become the difference between grinding out results and watching opportunities slip away.

Anselmi’s frustration carries weight. Elche were genuinely the better team—sharper in transition, more composed in possession, more dangerous in the final third. Against a Deportivo side fighting for survival, this was precisely the kind of fixture where La Liga title contenders assert themselves. Instead, Elche’s failure to convert control into goals means the gap to the top remains wider than their performance warranted.

The silver lining: a goalkeeper of Román’s caliber provides foundation for future wins. But foundations alone don’t win points. If Elche are to challenge seriously this season, they must convert these dominant displays into victories. Román kept them in it; next time, the outfield must finish the job. The draw at Riazor was a missed opportunity that could haunt them come May.