Hercules faces a strategic turn with Lolo Escobar’s approach
Escobar made his stance clear from his first appearance: he favors a practical, aligned strategy over dramatic revolution. His debut against Deportivo Aragón showcased a plan built on discipline and clear roles. With Riera anchoring the middle of the defense, and a frontline driven by the persistence of Ángel Rodríguez under Míchel, the squad is assembled to maximize efficiency. While Truyols has suggested he may not be the perfect fit for Hercules, the new arrangement appears to make the most sense given the current roster and tactical needs.
“Angry, yes; but if we continue on this line we will add a lot of points”
All lines feel steadier, with greater conviction in the way the team presses and recovers. Midfielders Cesar Moreno and Sandro Toscano push closer to the opponent’s final third, allowing Hercules to sustain pressure and protect their goal. The setup at Rico Pérez and Alzira demonstrates a solidity that earned the blue-white side a chance at victory, even though the decisive moment came from a referee decision rather than a lapse in play.
The improvements are evident, yet more work is needed for a true comeback in the second half of the season. The immediate target is a playoff position, and while Teruel leads with fourteen points, Hercules cannot claim that spot yet. The winter transfer window looms as a critical opportunity to strengthen the squad and push into the top five. The primary objective remains escaping the relegation zone, a gap reduced to just two points. The plan calls for four or five reinforcements to shore up the squad and address gaps in the roster, with the club aiming to move quickly to secure these additions.
The break in the schedule brings a pause for recovery and tactical refinement. It also offers the coaching staff time to align the team with the new ideas and approach as the winter market opens, a period that has dominated Hercules’ season planning.
Hercules: eight days of truce and twelve hard labors
The coaching group and leaders believed there was enough distance to regain form, even if it meant a gradual climb. Escobar emphasizes time to translate ideas into on-field performance and does not rush the plan, focusing on the upcoming clash with Atlético Saguntino as a barometer of progress. The path is clear: build step by step, closing the gap with rivals by sticking to a disciplined approach.
Optimism is reinforced by the recent clean sheet in nine away matches, a sign of renewed solidity, and the team remains hopeful after a balanced home draw against Ebro earlier in the season. Since then, the Alicante side had faced a tough run of matches without securing a clean goal, a streak that the new coaching staff has targeted to break. An early objective was to stem defensive bleeding, a problem that had troubled Hércules in the opening days of the season, including a 0-0 stalemate away to Mallorca. That issue was identified and addressed, with defensive organization improving and a sense that something more could be added to the attack.
As the season resumes, the focus is on translating defensive improvements into consistent results. The team seeks comprehensive development rather than quick fixes, aiming to convert a solid defensive base into sustained scoring and pressure. Each training session is viewed as a step toward a brighter stretch of form, with the long-term goal of returning Hércules to competitive prominence.