The Elche CF squad wrapped up a week of focused preparation at the Oliva Nova Golf hotel, located near Valencia. The players completed a final training session this morning before returning to their base in Elche, carrying a sense of momentum from the productive camp.
Under the guidance of the new head coach in green, Pablo Machín, the team had earned a well-deserved rest after a demanding stretch of ten intense sessions. Recharging their batteries, the players were slated to resume activities on Tuesday morning at half past ten, resuming work on the Díez Iborra course beside the Juan Ángel Romero sports complex in Elche.
Lots of intensity and good fit at the start of the Elche stage in Oliva
JA Galvanized
This is how the Oliva phase concluded: a clear sense of progress felt by both the coaching staff and the players. Machín and his assistants used the week to study the squad, refine tactical ideas, and test the game plans they want the team to adopt. The players welcomed the new coach with open minds, showing readiness and a solid understanding of Spanish football traditions. The group is eager to translate training ground ideas into on-field performance and to demonstrate the adaptability needed to compete at a high level.
Elche already plays the Machín style
VL Deltel
The week emphasized harmony and intensity as the core characteristics of the living-together phase. The squad built cohesion through collective sessions and tactical drills, reaching a peak during a staged match against West Bromwich Albion, a club competing in the English second tier. The fixture ended in a 1-0 victory for the Elche side, thanks to a second-half strike by Argentina’s Ezequiel Ponce. Machín allocated meaningful minutes to most players, including those nursing injuries or rehabilitation programs. Names such as Helibelton Palacios, Gonzalo Verdú, Domingos Quina, and Raúl Guti all progressed in their recovery. Fidel Chaves remained sidelined as he nears a return, while Enzo Roco and Tete Morente faced an extra week before rejoining full-group work due to Achilles issues and other niggling injuries.
Machín liberates troops at Elche
JA Galvanized
From Tuesday, the third week of the Machín era will get underway. On Thursday, December 8 Elche faces a stern test in the Festa d’Elx cup match, scheduled for 8:15 p.m. at the Martinez Valero stadium against Leeds United from the Premier League. The objective is to strike the right balance as the team prepares for the resumption of official competitions. The calendar then features a King’s Cup Round of 16 clash on Tuesday, December 20 at 19:00, hosted at the Pedro Escartín Stadium in Guadalajara, with a potential showdown against a top-flight opponent. In LaLiga Santander action, the Frangiverdes are set to face Atlético Madrid on Thursday, December 29 at 21:30 at the Metropolitan Citizens Stadium, bringing a decisive late-year test as the club aims to strengthen its standings and momentum heading into the winter break.