A few weeks ago everything seemed so simple, but the defeat against the lower team Levante and the harshness of the calendar (Barça, Valencia, Athletic and Real Sociedad almost back-to-back) have put Francisco’s Elche into the lions’ den, with a fragrant game. It’s like the final now, against Mallorca the next day. More than what happened then, as franjiverdes retained four rental points with the landing, due to the feelings the team might leave in the event of a negative result against the Balearic Islands, who will come next with Javier Aguirre. Helmet is an expert at feeling the tooth grazing his neck.
Even a goal three minutes later didn’t give Elche enough air against Real Sociedad, who were excellent at first and then “amarrategui”. He could perfectly take away everything football had given him to move up the leaderboard, based on physical appearance, quality and luck generation, eventually perhaps shrinking down when they didn’t need him. It is a trainer’s handbook like Imanol Alguacil who can handle various styles very well and craft a tactical device with the idea of surprising an opponent ten places down on the table. As always, they survived until the 94th minute, but scoring Real was tough for Elche. This is the virtue that inspires the most confidence in this group, they are superior even when they are capable of competing against better opponents. It’s up to him to entrust himself with the following Elche League matches.
Silva is not a priest
Or not Pastore Silva. At Martínez Valero, the Canary presented an exhibition more typical of 2010 rather than 2022. His compatriot Omar Mascarell tried in every way to restrain him. Even Enzo Roco gave him a good kick. In Imanol’s apple, surrounded by a number of players like Silva, Rafinha and Mikel Merino, and two physical marvels at the front, he was free to play as he wanted. One cheated (very fast Sorloth, apparently a chest) and the other forgave (Isak in Iñaki Williams mode).
Performances like Silva’s were expected, and Pastore saved distances when it landed in the city of palm trees. Not always, but sometimes yes. The good Argentine midfielder will return next week from his four-day exclusion following his suspension. It wouldn’t hurt to add something for the rest of the competition. First of all, because Elche completely lacked what a Pastore quality player could give him. Silva is an excellent example that neither age nor past injuries prevent you from performing in the present, even if punctual.
Surgeon Francis
If Imanol wins the first tactical game against Francisco, it is said. And if the Almeria coach knew how to get out of the way. He did what it took for his team to stop looking like a bunch of teenagers going to practice with the elderly on any Thursday. Physically, Elche was overwhelmed by both Real and the irresolvable referee criteria that see fouls and penalties differently depending on the area in which they occur.
First, Diego González was fouled in what could have been an excellent penalty. Then a penalty from Enzo Roco for falling to the ground (he apparently didn’t touch Sorloth, despite more luck than anything else). Then open a bar to Le Normand, who can roam freely in the greenery without being subject to any sanctions. Between Real’s sway and the referee’s sway, without any intervention from VAR, Elche also took a few hits in the foot, either on offense with Pere Milla’s opportunity to limbo, or on the defensive with both goals conceded seriously.
Francisco’s scalpel replaced a reasonable rout against a more balanced game where Elche had the chance to score first over Ponce, then with too much push and little success. The situation is worrying, even more worrying if it continues to drop forward, but despite the recent hits, the pulse of the team continues to rise. At least that’s how he got to the final against Mallorca. Then it will be time to find out if the wolf has gone away, or if Francisco and his men have entered the cavern surrounded by a flock ready to devour them in the final month of the competition.