Gonzalo Verdu is back. The captain and talisman of the Franjiverde squad, the defender who clashed with Leganés at the Pinatar Arena on Saturday, returned to action after nearly three months. Though a holiday interrupted the run, he has already missed the feel of the turf and the intensity of a match, stepping back on in the 65th minute with the scoreboard at 1-1.
Elche had to forget the poor first half, yet this marked the first time the team managed to respond early in the season. After Pere Milla buried a perfectly taken penalty, Gonzalo Verdú, Diego González, John, and Josema joined the fray. Francisco almost refreshed the defensive line. The game started to lean Elche’s way. Verdu, in particular, gave the side confidence, solidity, pauses, and control of the tempo.
Even though players like Mojica showed decisive moments, and Knezevic, the Serbian, kept contributing, it felt to everyone that the captain’s presence had recharged the atmosphere. Milla and Tete Morente, the scorers, sensed the return of their leader.
Verdú had suffered a wound on May 1 during Elche-Osasuna, a match that ended 1-1. The captain could not finish the last 15 minutes and left the pitch with the team on 10 points. In a bid to secure survival, he played through pain until a fibrillar tear in the adductor tendon finally sidelined him.
Since then, Elche claimed victories against Cádiz-Elche (3-0) on May 7, against Elche-Atlético Madrid (0-2) on May 11, and against Celta de Vigo-Elche (1-0) on May 15, followed by a 3-1 win over Elche-Getafe on May 22. Three defeats and one victory littered the results, but salvation had already been secured with Verdu on the pitch. He did not feature in the first two friendlies against Newcastle B and Villarreal B, both losses. The talisman was missed; finally, he was back, and his presence coincided with the team claiming their first pre-season win.
In the current week, the captain trained at the same level as his teammates and hopes to push himself further so he is ready for the clash with Cartagena on Saturday. Verdu is a native of the Murcian city and began his football career at a club that would become a rival later on.
Gonzalo Verdu is back. The captain and talisman of the Franjiverde squad, the defender who faced Leganés at the Pinatar Arena on Saturday, returned to the field after roughly three months. Although a holiday interrupted the rhythm, he immediately yearned for the feel of the pitch and the tension of a match, entering in the 65th minute with the score tied at 1-1.
Elche had to forget the first half, but this represented the first time they could react to the season’s pace. Following Pere Milla’s composed penalty, Verdú, Diego González, John, and Josema surged onto the field. Francisco nearly reestablished the defensive line. The game began to flow well. Verdu’s calm, security, and control gave the team momentum.
Even as Mojica showed decisive moments and Knezevic impressed in defense, along with the goal scorers Milla and Morente, those present felt the captain’s return in the air. Verdú had been injured on May 1 in Elche-Osasuna, a 1-1 draw. The captain could not finish the final 15 minutes and left the team hovering on 10 points. Pushing hard for safety, he endured the discomfort until the injury fully took hold, a fibrillar tear in the adductor muscle tendon.
Since that setback, the squad had secured wins against Cádiz-Elche (3-0) on May 7, Elche-Atlético Madrid (0-2) on May 11, Celta de Vigo-Elche (1-0) on May 15, and Elche-Getafe (3-1) on May 22. Three defeats and one victory did not stop salvation, which was confirmed with him on the field. Verdú also did not appear in the first two friendlies against Newcastle B and Villarreal B; both ended in defeat. The talismanian return boosted the squad, and his presence coincided with their first pre-season victory.
This week, the captain trained alongside his teammates and hopes to push himself further to be ready for the Cartagena match on Saturday. Verdu, a native of the Murcian city, began his football journey at a club that later became a rival.