Hercules began a rest period this Monday to break for the Christmas holidays and will resume training on December 27. Three preparation sessions are planned between Wednesday and Friday of the coming week, and according to Rubén Torrecilla these are the suggested days and focuses: the plan may extend through Saturday, December 30, depending on how the initial trio of sessions unfolds and the fitness levels of the squad.
The team will return to normal activity on January 2 to continue preparations for their match against Lleida. The clash, hosted by Lleida, represents a pivotal moment in the campaign: if the Alicante club secures three points on January 7, they could seal the first round as winter champions. For this game, Torrecilla intends to reinstate Nico, who has been medically cleared, and, in principle, the full squad will be available. Juanmi García is also expected to be back after resting following last Sunday’s match against Badalona, showing no signs of discomfort.
Hercules will travel to Camp d’Esports in Lleida, aiming to close the gap at the top as they come in just two points behind the leader. The objective is to challenge a direct rival for valuable points. The Alicante side recently endured defeats against higher-ranked teams, losing to fourth-placed Sant Andreu (3-1) and third-placed CE Europa (1-0). Similar to last Sunday’s draw of 2-2 with Badalona Futur at Rico Pérez, the results have not always gone in their favor, yet the team remains in the hunt.
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The situation around the league’s leading clubs remains tense; teams in the upper tier have faced recurring challenges even when they try to maintain momentum. The lessons from last season show how difficult it is to beat the top five away from home. The coach and his staff have not visited the Lleida stadium since 2018, a fact they are hoping to change as they push to claim the top spot at the start of the second half of the season.
Momentum matters. The Alicante squad has stacked three consecutive days without a loss, reinforcing their intent to keep the rhythm that brought them to 33 points before the holiday break. A personalized nutrition and training plan has been put in place for the Christmas window to preserve form and reduce the risk of fatigue, ensuring players stay sharp when competition resumes. The objective is to hold the lead or at least stay within striking distance as the calendar moves into 2024.
In this context, the coaching staff emphasizes disciplined recovery, targeted conditioning, and strategic rest. While results are not always immediate, the team’s approach is to maintain consistency across training blocks, maximize rest, and ready the squad for a demanding January schedule. The plan includes monitoring players’ workloads, adjusting intensity levels, and reinforcing tactical understanding so that the team can execute game plans against top rivals.
Ultimately, the focus remains clear: regain and sustain form after the holiday break, manage the calendar with careful load planning, and leverage the depth of the squad to press for top positions as the season advances. The objective is to convert potential into points on the board, lift confidence, and keep the title race alive for as long as possible.