Elche CF has wrapped its pre-season and is now in league mode. The coaching staff is laser-focused on the next match, scheduled for Monday at 09:30 in the Benito Villamarín, where they will open against Betis.
Following the most recent friendly at La Nucía last Sunday, the franjiverdes enjoyed a day and a half off. This Monday afternoon, the team gathered at the Díez Iborra field in the Juan Ángel Romero Sports City for a productive session.
The moment of truth arrived as Francisco challenged the squad before training with a message about commitment, dedication and effort. It marked the start of a long journey of roughly ten months, with the primary objective being a secure stay in the Premier League for a third consecutive season. This is a pivotal chapter for the team and for Spanish football as a whole.
player recovery
Tuesday’s session confirmed the positive progress of players who had dealt with minor injuries in recent weeks. Fidel Chaves, Josan Ferrández and Pedro Bigas have all recovered and trained carefully to avoid relapse. The trio is expected to be ready for Monday’s match at Benito Villamarín as part of the medical and coaching staff’s contingency plan.
Tete Morente did not join the group but is expected to progressively reintegrate with the squad in the coming days. If all goes well, the Cádiz-born forward should feature in Francisco’s lineup for the league’s opening game.
Lucas Boyé and Javier Pastore
Argentine forward Lucas Boyé and midfielder Javier Pastore also attended the Díez Iborra session, training on the sidelines under the watchful eyes of the medical team and rehabilitation specialists.
The two players have shown steady improvement in recent days and are anticipated to begin full training soon, aiming to be physically ready for competitive matches after a reduced pre-season. The preseason period has left the squad lighter in numbers, but readiness is the priority.
Gonzalo Verdú continues his rehabilitation after last week’s adductor surgery. The Cartagena defender will be out for more than two months and is not expected to return until October.
In principle, Boyé, Pastore and Verdú will be the only three absences for Francisco in the season’s opener against Betis. Everything else is on track, but the coach may need to call upon a few players from the reserve team to complete the traveling squad to Seville.
There will be no more rest days this week
The Frangiverdes will not have any more rest days this week. Training continues through Sunday, and on Monday morning the squad will fly by charter to Seville. Tomorrow, Thursday, is planned for official presentations with Carlos Clerc and Roger Martí, with only two signatures expected, and Saturday will feature a press conference before the match against Besiktas.