Olot stands as the sole Group 3 rival that Lolo Escobar hasn’t faced since taking over Hércules as coach. Armed with that insight, the Extremadura manager, despite weeks of mixed signals, believes his team can raise the level of the “blue and whites” enough to challenge for the pace of the league. His plan remains clear: even if the project isn’t yet in promotion places, the prime objective is promotion itself.
With ten matches remaining, the Don Benito boss outlined a current ambition to battle for a playoff spot. A narrow four-point gap separates them from that goal. After five rounds, they’ve suffered only two defeats, and the sense of opportunity remains strong as they pursue offense from a position in the league table that would grant access to the postseason.
“With five games left, we keep fighting for the playoffs and chasing the bullish target,” he asserted. He insisted that the moment of the team does not matter; what counts is the chance to secure a postseason berth, provided the plan holds firm.
Hercules CF | Nerves Hold Lolo Escobar
Pedro Rojas
“The earlier we lock it in, the better, because it would be a positive reinforcement for us. Yet this is football. You can’t relax—too much ease can backfire. You never know if it’s better or worse,” the Extremadura-based coach explained, stressing the precarious balance in a sport that rewards both urgency and calm.
Escobar is certain there are three home games left. The results for Alicante’s side at Rico Pérez and the upcoming clash will be decisive, or at least highly telling: “This is a must for us because I believe we perform better away from home. We must improve our game on our own pitch to break into the playoffs,” he predicted. He framed a close, competitive encounter with Olot, a Catalan opponent five points from safety during relegation battles, as a key test.
For Lolo, situations like this are situational and don’t reflect the true strength of the Catalan side: “I really like our progress, we’ve grown stronger. Mestalla’s win was earned on the pitch. If we win, we can take a big step forward today,” he commented.
Hercules CF | Lolo Escobar is One Loss from Matching Ángel Rodríguez
Pedro Rojas
The blue-and-white coach recalled Hercules’ season arc, noting that the team had moved into the promotion zone with ten points to spare. “The progress has been notable,” he admitted, even as the squad faced setbacks. “When we lost to Peña Deportiva it was the result of the opposition’s better moments and our inability to compete, which was tough to admit. Still, there have been trials and fatigue, with some players sidelined by injury and others not fully match-ready.”
Right now, Escobar sees a squad capable of climbing higher with the current roster. “We will push forward and give it our all,” he stated, acknowledging that there were personal matters that kept a staff member away from a recent training session. Yet the plans remained focused on maximizing the available talent and seizing every possible playoff opportunity.
Hercules CF: Lolo Escobar Grimaces
There is a sense of realism in Escobar’s approach. “We’re not counting on help from outside; the window for the five days ahead matters for those participating. The team must stay focused and not drift,” he said, before turning his attention to the tactical side. Michel Herrero, a colleague who often weighs in on the strategy, observed that the midfield engine plays a pivotal role. He noted that while many players developed as champions in other roles, their current impact is felt in the middle of the park, where controlling the ball and creating chances can decide matches. The challenge remains to bring that influence closer to the opponent’s goal and to sharpen finishing under pressure.