Hércules shifts toward consolidated leadership as the squad faces a difficult phase
Hércules is guiding a careful transition aimed at strengthening leadership within the group. They remain the only side to have won every match until a recent loss in Manresa on Sunday. Traveling will continue to be a recurring challenge for the Alicante club, with three of their four October fixtures on the road. Rubén Torrecilla’s squad will head to Ibiza, Barcelona, and the Penya Independent will meet Europa and its Valencia affiliate. At home, October brings only Cerdanyola as the local visitor.
Over the next two away rounds, the schedule includes two synthetic surfaces out of ten, requiring measured intensity. In the two away fixtures prior, Formentera and Sant Andreu delivered a tight balance of results, underscoring the need for steady pacing on varied surfaces.
Beyond the on‑field rhythm, Hércules has noticed changes off the pitch as well. To sustain momentum, the club will not rely on the Rico Pérez stadium for October points, a month that has yet to yield a points haul as the team works to recreate the start‑of‑season cadence. David Cubillo leads the project with Carmelo del Pozo taking charge of sports management in his first year. The club sticks to a steady plan, echoing the approach Quique Sánchez Flores used at Getafe and the early home‑win burst José Bordalás helped usher in during earlier seasons. In recent play, Hércules advanced past Atzeneta, Peña Deportiva, and Orihuela as part of a home success run.
The team has played two away matches, earning a win over Formentera and suffering a defeat at Sant Andreu
Torrecilla’s approach emphasizes building a strong home base while maintaining momentum away from home. The squad has accumulated 12 points in the early phase, reflecting the coach’s ongoing assessment of players including Ángel Rodríguez. Rodríguez arrived with ambitions tied to a strong start, and the camp seeks to sustain forward pressure as the season unfolds. Earlier in the year, progress by the Leonese side raised expectations, even as a late‑season dip prompted careful workload management and tactical tweaks by the coaching staff.
To prepare for the next league fixture in Ibiza, Sant Miquel de Balansat, the blue and white club follows a plan that blends training on the synthetic turf at the sports city with sessions on alternating days. This approach aims to prevent overload while keeping players sharp. The squad will train on the Rico Pérez surface midweek and again Friday morning to prime for the away test.
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8 days
Angel Rodríguez needed eight weeks to reach 12 points last season. He was relieved of duties five games later after adding just two more points, departing on the 13th matchday with 14 points.
Following the victory against Andratx, Torrecilla rewarded the squad with a brief break before returning to routine later in the day. The coaching staff managed workload carefully in a week with a tight schedule, while a few players underwent recovery work for overload and minor injuries to stay ready for upcoming challenges.
Nine matches without a win fatigue
Despite questions about whether the trio will travel to Ibiza this Saturday, the club remains confident the African striker can recover in time to reemerge as the focal point in attack. With key forwards missing, the team must rely on others to sustain scoring opportunities. Diego Lorenzo found it difficult to win the ball and link with teammates earlier, underscoring that timing and chemistry remain essential for the attack to function smoothly.
At Narcís Sala, the surface provides better conditions than other venues Hércules visits, and the blue and white defense showed vulnerabilities that need tightening. Reducing chances granted to opponents in areas with limited ball movement will be vital to stabilize the back line and protect leads around the 90‑minute mark.
Hércules focuses on Saturday home games
For now, Sunday football at José Rico Pérez is off the schedule. Rubén Torrecilla’s team will repeat the Saturday home pattern for their lone October fixture at the stadium. The Alicante side hosts the newly promoted Cerdanyola on Saturday October 14 at 20:30. Although the stadium has drawn smaller crowds on Saturdays before, the club remains optimistic about attracting fans for a competitive match. October holidays on October 9 and 12, along with other dates, shape a lighter schedule that could influence attendance and preparation for the next test.