We are in April. Looks like Elche is still in the pre-season. Have beccacece At his last press conference, he admitted that “it’s normal for players to suffer physically as we change their training methods.” He also referred to tactical changes. «They need to get the idea of the game».
Machín used the term “process” repeatedly.. He meant the same thing. During the World Cup break, he had almost two months, including friendlies, to adapt his team to his system. Almirón was only four games. He made changes, but they were not permanent.
Francisco held the official pre-season from Elche. He planned it carefully after he saved the team with a historic score. This fact heralded a different 100th anniversary as well as the preservation of the backbone of the squad. But soon the cake appeared. “I didn’t have enough players to plan the season properly”, after the fourth day of La Liga, the coach obtained from Almería. He accepted this problem. Maybe not the other: the squad didn’t have enough reinforcements, were exhausted in many cases (injuries), and lacked the rookie spirit they had in the previous two seasons. And so, Elche lived this route through an endless preseason.
ENDLESS STORY
There are really two agonizing situations that never end
Two problems do not end and they tire Elche. One has to do with the pre-season concept itself. The other is the current competition. Elche finally drowns. And also to his fans, who have accompanied his team with humility and compassion, but whose patience has run out. The irreversible result, which has not been denied for weeks, takes a long time. Since the beginning of the year. Someone even said that before. There was no reaction. Shy shots, yes, but not a tabletop hit. And the decisions from the noble chamber didn’t nail the right nail either.
BEFORE THE FIRST SEASON
Francisco starts without a team
Read some headlines in this newspaper. «Francisco starts pre-season with just 15 players from the first team» (July 1); “A questionable pre-season” (August 1) “Elche cries out for autographs” (August 2); “Elche needs to strengthen the defense” (August 5)… An analysis of the above signer referred to already existing diseases: “Elche is still in the pre-season. Injuries, slow inclusion of signatures and the physical condition of newcomers hinder the group’s adaptation and are the cause of the current crisis. It was on September 15.
KEY MOMENT
An alternative heater
Shortly after the mentioned date, especially on October 3, the key moment of the course would be experienced. Elche lost 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano due to a grotesque mistake he made at the last minute and after pardoning 1-2. Angry, Bragarnik picks up the phone and fires Francisco.. He calls the delegate of the group to convey to him. He was going to apologize to the coach later, but the decision was made and announced. Now and backup? Good thing it wasn’t. Second team coach Alberto Gallego takes the reins. Draw at home against Mallorca. And it’s exciting, but the owner has other plans, which, now learned from Beccacece’s mouth, did not materialize. They wanted the Argentine’s arrival at that time, but it was difficult for Uefa to give him the necessary permission to train.
ANOTHER PATCH
There was no time with Almirón
There was no time for anything. Person who is already a former Elche coach Back to the distrust of the stands. He had already kicked him out before and had to hire Escribá to save the team in the campaign for his return to Primera. And that’s when he came to replace a franciverde legend like Pacheta on the bench. However, Jorge Almirón would only have five matches (two draws). Mantecón took over a game and… took a break for the World Cup.
WORLD CUP PRE-SEASON
Final cartridge: Machín
Everyone agreed that the situation was very complicated, but we had more than half a season ahead of us and almost two months of break for the Qatar championship. A second pre-season, practically mixed with the first, without missing the criticism, the controversial decisions, the isolation or casting of the board, the lack of appearance of the players… The “process” will be “long and difficult”. I haven’t come to change the situation for two days,” admitted Pablo Machín, It was precisely this process that took so long that Bragarnik Elche made possibly the first thoughtful decision of the course. Meditation, yes. If true, time will tell. The largest shareholder regained his already mature idea of betting on a young, different technician, whom he knew well and, moreover, decided to predict events. In cold blood, Elche was already relegated. It’s better to start thinking about the next campaign now. Second, yes. But with the desire to return to the First Division as soon as possible.
«PRE-SEASON»
Preparation for the next course
Elche has already admitted the doubt. And best of all, as an advanced student, he’s already bought the books he needs to start the next year in Second. And Beccacece kicked off a third pre-season with the team to create the group and style of play that Elche had to implement in August. There is only one solution left for the amateur. Enjoy the remaining 9 days in the highest category and assume your team will be in the Second Division in the next term. It is also admirable to have spent three years among the elite. The ace demands the fastest spin.