The starting move to solve any problem is clear: understand the path to overcome it. Francisco is the name fans already associate with Elche CF. The Franjiverde boss, in the previous season, endured moments with short unbeaten streaks—never more than two or three games without a win—yet those lean spells were followed by some of his strongest stretches as Elche’s coach.
Francisco, the tactician from Almería, began his Elche tenure with a crucial 3-1 victory over Cádiz. Yet the sequence that followed showed a tougher rhythm, as the team failed to win three straight games. They were defeated by Valencia at Mestalla (2-1), then by Barcelona at the Nou Camp (3-2), and later the draw at Martínez Valero against Granada (0-0).
That rough patch nudged Elche toward the relegation zone once more, but the response from the squad was remarkable. A home win against Espanyol (1-2) and a 1-0 victory over Villarreal sparked belief, followed by a bold 2-2 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabéu and a 3-1 win over Alavés at Martínez Valero. Those results marked a decisive shift, lifting the Franjiverde side away from danger and into a more secure position.
Later, a fresh downturn came, with three defeats in four matches after a stumble. Sevilla (2-0) stopped them, then a home win over Cádiz (2-1) and a 3-0 loss to Getafe, plus a 1-2 setback against Barcelona, created a moment of crisis. Yet once again the team rallied with a victory over Granada (0-1), underscoring Francisco’s ability to steady the ship when pressure mounted.
The season’s rhythm oscillated: another rough spell produced three losses in a row—Valencia (0-1), Athletic Bilbao (2-1), and Real Sociedad (1-2). Anxiety rose at Martínez Valero, as persistence wavered and only the poor form of opponents kept Elche out of the red zone. Francisco and his players then demonstrated they could respond, delivering a 3-0 win over Mallorca that signaled salvation and momentum.
The following day brought a near-shock result—Beating Real Betis at Benito Villamarín (0-1) reinforced belief, while a home draw with Osasuna (1-1) kept the chain intact. That sequence signaled a period of resilience, where Elche refused to concede defeat and kept its form by staying unbeaten over a stretch of games.
As the season moved toward its final phase, the team endured another tough run: Cádiz (3-0), Atlético Madrid (0-2), and Celta (1-0) dealt blows, yet the overall standing remained stable enough to celebrate a mathematical relief from relegation concerns. The last day delivered a signature performance: a 3-1 triumph over Getafe at Martínez Valero, capping a campaign that concluded with 42 points and a sense of achievement.
Francisco has shown a knack for identifying cures and re-igniting a squad in crisis. His leadership has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to turn moments of doubt into turning points, even when the path ahead looks daunting.
Yet the new championship started with different feelings. Elche’s early form did not mirror last season’s bright spells; only the match against Levante at Ciutat de València exposed a weakness, and the real challenge now is to recover quickly and avoid faltering against direct rivals in the fight for survival, just as last year showed.
What matters most is the capacity to rise again after setbacks and, above all, to avoid failures against the teams fighting on equal footing for permanence. Francisco’s task is clear: maintain momentum when the pressure sharpens and produce consistent results against the teams closest to the relegation threshold, ensuring Elche stays out of trouble as the season progresses.