Hércules Faces a Tall Task After Rodríguez’s Departure
The impact created by Ángel Rodríguez while leading Hércules in his phase remains stubbornly difficult to undo. The numbers on the board suggest a near-impossible climb, with blue and white colors needing to triple their current benefits. If they could win three times as many as they have through the 15th matchday, they would still trail by 38 points compared with where the Alicante squad stood at Christmas, a gap that dwarfs the 56 points Sergio Mora tallied to close the regular season.
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Under the watch of the former Getafe assistant, Pepe Bordalás, risks that once seemed distant became part of Hércules’ fate as promotion hopes shifted. The team, currently occupying a position just outside the playoff zone, faces a daunting path to catch the league leader, Teruel. Closing the gap by 14 points would require a remarkable turn, especially since several blue-and-white projects are vying to do the same. On game day 34, the last playoff round, the focus remains fixed on preserving a chance rather than accepting fate.
Hércules Must Add At Least 20 Points More Than They Earned in the First 15 Days
The recent banner of results weighs on the squad led by Lolo Escobar. With only four league wins registered so far, one came after replacing a departed Leónese, and a 14-point tally from 13 games left the team perilously near relegation territory. The drama of the season is amplified by the proximity of the second tier, heightening the sense that this is an unusually tight race for a club in its second year under Carmelo del Pozo overseeing the sports field.
Promising a season of “fun,” the new coach’s approach is intent on lifting performance. Still, the challenge is clear and undeniable. In just two days, Extremadura’s coach Rodríguez had already managed to outline a bold improvement plan for Hércules, signaling a rapid escalation in expectations.
4 EARNINGS
The team’s results before the Christmas break show a stark need to triple the current average to keep playoff hopes alive.
56 POINTS
The season began with a squad overhaul, bringing in a new energy to the Alicante club. The blue-and-white side have recorded 18 points from two fixtures since the first half concluded, missing 38 points, and collecting 13 wins nonetheless.
At this stage, Sergio Mora finished third with 28 points, ten points more than Hércules has today (11th). A six-win run in the previous season’s closing stretch helped Mora secure the winter title in 2022. If Hércules were to win the remaining two duels before the second leg, reaching the playoff line would still be ambitious, with Manresa currently sitting eight points ahead in the bid for a top-five finish in group 3.
What Happened After Day 15 Last Year
Last year Mora had 28 points, ten more than the current Alicante tally. Intercity, winning the league on the final day, finished the first 15 weeks with 29 points and later surged to 66. Teruel was not far behind. If the projections hold, last year’s statistics would need to be surpassed in order to aim for a playoff spot, which means Hércules must win at least 13 of the remaining 19 matches in this campaign.
70% Win Perspective
Turning that success into a percentage provides a clearer sense of how challenging it is for Escobar’s squad to finish strong. With 19 matches left, a 70% win rate would require 13 victories, a benchmark that very few projects in the fourth national tier can realistically achieve.
The four points accumulated by the former Mirandés coach darken the mood but do not erase the scale of the task. Hércules remains distant from the teams that typically shape the First RFEF playoff picture. The next Sunday, at 12 noon, the Nou hosts a difficult matchup on Camp de Morvedre’s synthetic surface, a setting known for testing teams under pressure.
Ángel Rodríguez Was Replaced After 14 Points in 13 Games
The winter market will likely bring reinforcements to secure a mission with a thin margin for error. It is time for the league to push toward 38 to 40 points out of a controversial 57, with the aim of finishing among the top five in group 3. The plan calls for improvements across all lines, especially in defense. The technical secretariat intends to rent centers so registration can take place before the Sagunto trip. Expect at least four moves to be formalized before February 1 that could reshape the squad.