Ander Vitoria: First Time No Goal
The Basque striker, aged 32, finds himself at a rare crossroads. Since his professional debut in 2010, he has never faced a season quite like this one, where he can close out matches without conceding a goal—or even earn a place on the field. Five starts, always coming off the bench rather than completing a full game. Coaching figures, including Ángel Rodríguez and Lolo Escobar, haven’t quite grasped the shift in his form. Critics argued he wasn’t meeting basic professional standards, yet the player arrived last year weighed down by a stretch of months that left him short of peak performance. In the eyes of the federation, there may be no clear happy ending for him in the near future.
With one more year on his contract, there’s a reason why no disciplinary action has followed his off-field, unproductive period. He failed to seize opportunities, choosing to resist the weariness of a changing role. Some days he seemed to be a spectator in training, choosing to settle for mediocrity rather than push back against the doubts of his coaches. The club is reportedly weighing a mutual parting come June, in what insiders describe as a strategy of tolerance rather than confrontation.
Jack Harper: Near Halfway Through the Season
The Malaga forward, carrying a Scottish passport, embodies a narrative many clubs grapple with. He arrived at the start of the campaign with high expectations, showed glimpses of potential, and then faced a sharp decline in momentum. An early goal tally hinted at a brighter path, but a knee injury on November 20 disrupted his ascent. Since then, he has missed a substantial share of fixtures, and when fit, he has struggled to recapture the early energy that defined him. The long layoff has taken a toll on match sharpness; even when he returns, it may be at a lower physical and competitive level due to the lingering impact of recent illness and a broken toe. Since rejoining in February, appearances have been scarce, with limited minutes and few chances to make an impact. The club’s decision-making on his role remains a key talking point as the season progresses.
Sergio Marcos: From a Ministry Favorite to Exhibition Piece
The evaluation of Sergio Marcos reflects a broader misstep in squad planning. The offensive system was built around Ángel Rodríguez, and the arrival of Míchel Herrero at the tail end of the transfer window should have created balance. Instead, friction emerged as the pair had to negotiate playing time and roles. This pattern repeated with Artiles, underscoring a learning curve that did not quite translate into steady on-field improvement. The result was a slide in standing and playing time, as well as a perception of how expendable a once crucial player could become.
What followed was a gradual erosion of confidence. Marcos found himself overlooked in favor of younger options, with a move toward prioritizing different options during training and in squad selections. In Don Benito and Santander, his minutes dwindled further, and a sense of being underutilized grew. He eventually signed another year with the club, but public trust did not rebound to previous levels.
During the early phase of a new coaching regime, Marcos was on the fringe, clocking only short stints on the pitch and never quite finding a rhythm. The situation highlighted the delicate balance between development, opportunity, and team strategy. The broader takeaway centers on how quickly a career can pivot when tactical choices clash with individual expectations.
Medical notes outline the ongoing challenges within the squad. Cedrés is currently undergoing evaluation, and Harper remains sidelined by a toe issue. The medical team is balancing recovery timelines against the rapidly changing needs of the squad.
Christian Cedrés is slated for a surgical procedure in April to address a longstanding knee issue. The Canary Islands native will miss the remainder of the season as he undergoes arthroscopic work on the meniscus and cartilage treatment. Harper continues to be unavailable due to a broken toe, with doctors weighing when to remove protective supports to restore mobility.