Pablo Machín is focused on steadily shaping a roster ready for the official season return, with a packed schedule serving as the live test bed. On Tuesday, December 20, at 19:00, a second-round Copa del Rey match against Guadalajara will mark a key audition for the group. Then, four days later, on Thursday, December 29, at 21:30, a Santander League fixture at the Civitas Metropolitano will pit Elche against Atlético Madrid, offering another crucial evaluation moment for the squad.
Machín believes that friendly and competitive matches alike are the clearest way to see each player in action. Elche has already faced three opponents in the run-up to the new season. The result against West Bromwich Albion, a narrow 1-0 win in the English Championship, provided a test of concentration and defensive organization. A separate encounter with Leeds United, a 1-2 defeat at the Martínez Valero, offered experiences in tempo and tactical understanding in a festive Elche setting for the Festa d’Elx trophy. Most recently, a high-profile clash at the Franjiverde Coliseum saw Genk, the Belgian first-division leader, win 3-2, giving the squad a clear picture of intensity and technical quality from a top European side.
Elche announced a concrete plan for the week when it disclosed a friendly fixture scheduled for Wednesday, December 14, set to kick off at 10:30 in the morning at the Martínez Valero stadium. The opponent was initially listed as Intercity, a First REFF side, and everything pointed to that game being the final preparatory meeting before the season. However, later Monday afternoon the club added that a second friendly would take place the same Wednesday, this time at six in the evening, against Athletic Torrellano, a Tercera RFEF team. In total, eight hours would separate the two matches, during which Machín would distribute minutes among the entire available squad and also give playing time to some players from the reserve side. Both fixtures were held behind closed doors, ensuring focused conditions for evaluating the roster under controlled circumstances.
The Burgos coach is intent on implementing a defensive system built around three central defenders with two wide players, a setup that the team has been working to perfect. Everything indicates this could be the formation used once the season kicks off. Machín believes the best way to validate the approach remains through friendly matches that replicate competitive intensity while allowing tactical experimentation and personnel testing. These preparations are aimed at ensuring the squad can compete in the league at the highest level while maintaining a cohesive shape and fluid attacking transitions. The manager’s notes emphasize balance, discipline, and the need for every member of the squad to contribute to both phases of play—pressing when out of possession and compact organization when defending. The path ahead is about translating training ground concepts into real-time performance on matchday, with the coaches closely monitoring how each option performs in different roles and against diverse styles of opposition. This approach seeks to cultivate a flexible, resilient, and modern unit capable of adapting to the varying demands of the season ahead. [citation: Elche CF press materials]