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[FM18] The Empordàs Love Being Sternest, a Costa Brava for Serious People


Diego Imposta

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175.

Llagostera played their games over in Palamós, which was on the coast and about half an hour drive. Their dizzying ascent through the leagues meant that they had outgrown their hosts. However, with such a growing fanbase, Llagostera was now the de facto premier Costa Brava side and stuck around.

It took me an hour to drive to the city of their birth, where the B team were based, and it was here I met with Isobel Tarragó again. She made it clear that I would have to split my time between the two locations - one on the south-eastern edge of the greater Girona urban sprawl, and the other beyond a wonderful drive through the hills and golf courses, opening up into the middle of the coastal route.

The reason I would have to split my time was because I had to hire an entire staff that would not just relocate to Palamós because the team played there on a Sunday. The travel did not end there either, as in two weeks’ time the squad would spend ten days in Barcelona. The famous Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys was ours to use. We could foster our team cohesion on Montjuïc, away from prying eyes.

We had two players with coaching licences – experienced attacking midfielder Diego with a B licence and experienced midfielder Álex Vaquero with a C licence. The former was interested in becoming a manager and the latter a coach. Tarragó was also keen to point out that others wanted to stay in the game after they retired, such as centre-back Miguel Fuiza and attacking midfielder Nacho who would both have an interest in scouting. Winger Sergio Alonso was also rumoured to be thinking about this.

22 of our 35 players were in the door this summer. It was to be another difficult window getting the players to work together. There was scope to move players down to the B team, though. We had 22 that were too old for under-19s football this season but only 11 over the age of 23, so space for five.

The culture of the place was familial and welcoming. There were players from distant countries, such as centre-back Javi Enríquez of Paraguay and Australian-Argentinean midfielder Gian Mendez. There were also players of African background like young attacking midfielder Amadou N’Diaye and young centre-back Monday Ogbonna who were of Senegalese and Nigerian heritage respectively. A young midfielder from the Basque Country was with us, too! Xabier Martínez had been unable to break out from his under-19s performances into the La Liga first team of Eibar and decided to start anew with this inclusive project under the chairwoman’s tutelage. Full-back Jaime Serrano was said to be able to speak fluent Italian after three years over there a decade ago. As a teenager at Inter then Varese he did not make a single appearance but the culture would have left a lasting impression on the guy.

All of these men, players and future staff, were new into the club this summer bar Gian Mendez who hailed from the southern hemisphere. There were sixteen remaining from the previous season and I would make sure that they would all get involved during pre-season. The five youngsters would not be included in my initial 30-man training camp. Three goalkeepers, including Álvaro Merino on loan from Basque club Barakaldo, would stay at home with two midfielders also being paid the minimum.

Tarragó informed me that none of my staff expressed an interest in joining me on the Costa Brava. It was galling to hear. I decided there and then that there would not be a return visit. I would wait until I went to the Catalan capital with my new squad. She had also warned me off speaking with the two agents involved with the club. All three of our remaining first team players from the previous season were contracted to Nico Martínez. He didn’t like his players to move around but was very impatient when it came to negotiating new deals. Goalkeeper José Antonio Manzanares, full back Pablo Agudo, and winger Álex Gracia were the spine of the team and, naturally, were among the top earners. The other agent, Alberto Huerto, was similar in character but was said to hawk his players about. It is bad news for experienced winger Sergio Alonso’s scout prospects here, but it also meant that I would not get too attached to Gian Mendez’s southern accent, nor young goalkeeper Pepe Lozano’s big wages.

After being given a healthy dossier of players and staff that either had been on the books here in the past or were people I really should know about, I set about drafting job vacancies for the entire club.

Financially, the club was in pretty good shape. It was up to me to stay long enough to take advantage of that. A new five-year sponsorship deal had just been signed following promotion, and if we didn’t add any more to the wage bill there was a quarter of a million euros to spend! There was a couple of million in the bank and it would probably last between one or two years based on current spending.

Tarragó had heard very good things about Pedro Peso at Ebro in Zaragoza and implored me to bring him on board as Head of Youth Development. He had done it at his home town Granada for the first five of their first six years in La Liga – it may have been no coincidence that they were relegated the year after he left – and spent the last two and a half years in B3 with the same middling results. Yet Tarragó was convinced that the man who worked under many different managers in the south had become bored working under the same man for two and a half years since he left. Her partner Alsina had sounded him out when he signed a youth player from them earlier in the summer. With a year left on his contract I would be spending a tenth of my transfer budget on one man. But I was buying La Liga quality organisation and appraisal abilities. His professionalism would safeguard our futures.

It was time to start thinking about friendly matches. Sants were the obvious local choice while at the Olympic park but when we got back from our ten days there I wanted a real test. I wanted us to play Palamós. It was not only a gesture to our stadium-sharing friends but it would also serve as a step up against Tercera opposition. I wondered about our level.

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176.

We had eleven players over the age of 23 and they would all start against Sants, injury permitting. I would crowbar them into a team and do the same for the next eleven players in the hierarchy. First on the team sheet was Manzanares in goal. The man from the south-east was our promotion ‘keeper and the jersey was his to lose. At right back former Valencia youth Agudo slotted in, while a local lad and the youngest of the elders would be our starting left back. Cristian Muniesa was no professional footballer but he was offered the opportunity to play for the club he loved. The fans would love him.

Centre back was where my first concession occurred. A vastly experienced but snail-like duo started together - Fiuza a seasoned defender and Vaquero, who could play anywhere, making his way back. The second concession was in the two ahead of them. Our two most technically proficient men had to start together. Budding scout Alonso came inside where he was also as comfortable, while Diego dropped back from his preferred number 10 role. Both were apparently famed for their killer balls or long shots to liven games up. Serrano would take the right wing role, his pace mirrored on the left by Joaquín Gascón. Nacho would occupy the role in the hole, the islander offering something different.

Up front Álex Gracia leads the line. Like the man in behind him he was not able to compete in the air but his pace and movement, not to mention a career average of one goal in four from midfield, plus his willing channel running should open up opportunities for his teammates. It was a big risk but the plan had to get two games at least. Only bona fide contracted squad members would get the nod in the second eleven. Youth prospects would have to watch on for now while I figured out my systems.

Lozano took the expensive reserve gloves, while Rafael Ubis, Jesús Rivas, and Ignacio Moreno joined Paraguayan central defender Enríquez at the back. Mendez and Ogbonna would sit in the middle of the park, the latter slightly out of his defensive comfort zone. Diminutive José Javier was ahead while Daniel Miguel and Pedro Gran flanked him. Dani would start up front. The two southern hemisphere men were older than the rest and at 22 they should really be knocking on the door of the first team.

The second eleven were all made unavailable for loan just like the other youngsters. I needed their focus. Having spent most of the day poring over contracts, I again turned to the chairwoman. Who I choose as captain would have an enormous bearing on pre-season. Agudo was the most influential member of the side but I was told that he was no leader. Muniesa was next in line as the Llagostera kingmaker but he had no experience. I was told that Vaquero was the man I was looking for but if I wanted to rely on someone playing each week I should be looking at Diego. His desire to become a manager compared to Vaquero’s wish to be a coach meant I would have a very capable understudy.

Vaquero came in from nine years at Xátiva in the Valencian community, cruelly released before any testimonial could occur. He brought with him Serrano and Diego who had spent the last season with him. Fiuza and Nacho had spent the last six months together at Montuiri - non-league in the islands – while the trio of Alonso, Gascón, and Álex Gracia had all spent some youth together in Zaragoza so there was some familiarity already. We had a competitive rivalry with Xátiva so I thought this would be a good time to invite them to a friendly in our back yard – it would have some bite to it. The local rivals, Cassà, were just north of Llagostera and a trip up there would suit our older fans. I didn’t want too much travel so Tarragó would arrange two local games.

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177.

Paula Huarte was the press officer and she knew all about me. How’s your father, the Golden Boy? If she thought that was funny, she was right! After making it clear that joe.co.uk were not at all invited to the press conference tomorrow, we got chatting about what I would say. In lieu of local press was the Spanish Football Informer, who had distribution all along the Costa Brava. I would be asked a lot of questions about dressing room atmosphere, of course, but I would bat them away. Positivity was key. When the moment came, Rubén Crespo was very enthusiastic but had more than a whiff of the payroll press about him. Nevertheless, I spoke of my honour at taking charge. I think I passed a test.

Imposta aiming to be the best. What a headline! Huarte was delighted – her job was done. The club was about to announce staggering losses of 40% at the AGM next month so this season had to be of a good, profitable standard to make promotion worthwhile. There was a lot more than pride on this.

Pedro Peso was in the door. Immediately he got to work assessing training plans and having a look at the current squad before an assistant came in. This next ten days before the players came back was vital. He had concerns about the quality through the middle of the side but I said we would just have to try these elder statesmen regardless. With his training framework I tailored the players’ new plan.

After a week of my tenure things were going well, if a little lonely. It was great to have Pedro Peso’s input alongside the chairwoman’s but I was still eagerly awaiting applications for the other roles. The season ticket’s were halfway to their projection already and I felt proud. My cup win a few years ago must have been big news to reach the Alt and Baix Empordà comarques on the coast, all the way out from Olot. It was going to be a very tough season with the quality we had but the second or even the third eleven succession plans were already in place. I asked Peso to get me intricate knowledge of all the players Tarragó had brought to my attention. I don’t care how long it takes. It was Ramon Vilaró, managing director at the club and Tarragó’s right-hand man, who informed us of former players and staff that were having their registrations moved to other clubs. This meant Peso wouldn’t waste time on prioritising targets that had already moved on. I still wanted those reports in time, though. It was important to me to leave no stone unturned. However, we were limited by having to search in Spain.

Former international Pedro Munitis was to replace me at Badalona. It was a case of a big man for an even bigger budget. Quite what they saw in his six months at Alcoyano a couple of years ago is open for debate but, like me, he had a trophy in his first season of management and that B1 title at Racing couldn’t be taken away from him. Italian international Thiago Motta followed me in at Santa Eulalia and he only won one game in a year, so any playing experience didn’t necessarily guarantee success.

Spain had been very disappointing Quarter Final losers to Belgium at Euro 2020, needing extra time to dispatch Poland in the second round, but the damage was done in the 0-4 group stage mauling by Germany. Zaragoza’s suprise Liga 1 2 3 winner Natxo González was dismissed from his role after two undefeated campaigns in the Nations League and Euro qualifiers - he couldn’t do it on the big stage.

Javi Gracia was the man parachuted in. Two incredible 4th place finishes with Real Sociedad would be the edge over any rival and it goes to show that the country is looking at Basque football. I had to get Catalan football on the same shop window. I had to make this work.

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178.

I wasn’t particularly impressed with the standard of applicants for the head physio position but after some thought I decided to keep Sergio González in Catalunya. He had left Atlético B after 13 years in a mass clear-out after their second relegation from the Segunda Divisíon inside four years. He moved to Sabadell and suffered the same unexpected fate last season. We need someone with experiences of what it was like to look after men who lacked belief. That disciplinarian would keep them on task.

The applicants for my assistant manager were of a much better standard and in a wonderful twist of coincidence, I had offered the job to a recent ex-player of Xátiva and five-year team-mate of captain Vaquero. Diego Jiménez was a fitness fanatic and signed off his career with 25 assists in his last year and a half at the club. He won back-to-back promotions with Eibar and spent a decade in two spells with Alcoyano as part of his 400 career appearances. The man was a reserved, professional stalwart.

A young and capable sports scientist was offered the job on the strength of an impressive CV, as was data analyst Álvaro Cabral. It was clear during phone calls that neither understood tactics as such but they were going to be the brains behind everything I did - they just didn’t know it yet. If modern staff could give us the edge then it would be very welcome. I made sure to get an early night as tomorrow the players arrived back for the first day of pre-season training. As the camp started the same day I’d given my personal assistant Adán the job of contacting them - the first day would be meet and greet.

David Ros, player liaison officer, was the first one in and he introduced himself. He said that when he spoke with the players I had a good reputation among them and in turn I would have good influence. It may be early days, but the players are excited about the future of the club with me at the helm. I’d only imagined what that felt like before. It was music to my ears! David was also keen to stress there had been some changes in the dressing room over the summer. Muniesa, the local left back, was on par with the three first team players remaining from last year in terms of how highly influential they were. The rest of the over 23’s were more influential than those under and made up the beta group. Central defender Fiuza was struggling to fit in with the group but a number of youngsters had given their chances a boost of making the grade early by befriending the core social group over the break.

I told him to gather the men on the football pitch. I hadn’t even been there myself, spending most of my time in Llagostera at the club offices. Of course, I found time to visit Palamós but with no staff for me to see there it was nothing more than pleasant day trips. I told Adán to get the engine started for the bus because this wouldn’t take long. I made my way out in the late July sun. I strode up to them, put my hands on my hips, and introduced myself. Vaquero confirmed of his seniority be speaking for the squad and welcoming me. I was confident and I told them I expected us to prove people wrong, avoid the drop early, and kick on after that. The captain-elect thought it an acceptable target as well.

I sat at the front of the bus with Peso, while Adán and David were on the other side. The players had free reign to enjoy the drive as they pleased but the four staff were not to be disturbed. The physio I wanted, González, waited until after dinner to call me. We were at the hotel and I wanted him there for tomorrow so he would have to travel tonight if he wanted the job. Yes, boss. The next phone call I got was incredible, just for the name on the end of it. Andrés Manzano, Director of Football for the Cornellà football club and famed academy for the last twelve years, was a free agent and interested.

Over breakfast with the squad, in professional silence, Adán said I wouldn’t believe who applied for the scout job. Only David Corominas, scorer of that cup final first leg goal at Merida for Olot! He was a tough guy to manage at the best of times but his Girona province credentials were never in doubt.

My new physio must have been in contact with his friends as the former Atlético B fitness coach Luís Piñedo applied for the same job here. I would be mad to turn down that kind of relationship. He had been there for ten years and was also removed in a cost-cutting exercise by the La Liga giants. The B team obviously held no importance any more since they had cemented a place as Spain’s third team.

By the evening Jiménez was in. As assistant manager he would primarily be responsible for bridging the gap with the players and he had to be down in the morning for the second day of training before a midweek day off from Peso’s high intensity fitness training. He would advise me tactically in-game.

The heads of sport science and data analysis were in but I saw no need for them to join us at camp. I asked that they stay behind, familiarise themselves with the base at Llagostera and the roster in full.

Jiménez immediately found that some of the players felt they were being asked to think about a bit too much in the first couple of days. Serrano and Gascón did not appreciate being asked to practice on their dribbling nor Agudo and Muniesa their heading. Defensive pairing Vaquero and Fiuza didn’t want to improve their strength and stamina respectively, while Nacho and Diego thought strength or long shot training was too much right now. It meant that only Manzanares, Sergio Alonso, and Álex Gracia wanted to improve, with their allocated passing, free kick, and strength training. The second eleven would get allocated training once we had seen them play. Back to the drawing board, Peso…

I rewarded persistent applicants for the physio and scout understudies. Dioni came in as physio from Granada via Écija in the south while scouts Christian Seubert and Germán Beltán had scored so many career goals all over Spain and the Basque region respectively.

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179.

Manzano would be given complete control of the B team. I needed to know what he was capable of. As director of football he would not have a great deal to do for six months so I put him to work in the Primera Catalana. He would manage the team, buy players, and employ staff. It was an audition for a job as manager for the main team should it not work out for me. This succession planning is practice for when I eventually take the reigns at a big club. That has to be the aim. Francisco Marcos was also rewarded for being a persistent applicant by coming in as help in the sports science department. We were really growing this week. Cabral was charged with scouting the next opposition and analysing a video of our last game. Corominas and Beltrán, Barcelona and Real Madrid academy graduates, were to scout the Segunda División for transfers while the nomadic Seubert was to look for loan signings a little harder to get in Liga 1 2 3. Journalists were intrigued at Jiménez as assistant and Manzano as a director of football so Paula Huarte had a job on to screen those calls in the same morning. Again, it was all positive and I had nothing to be afraid of. The club was bigger than me but I was still the one in charge. All that was left was to get a fitness and goalkeeper coach in the door and we’d have a full compliment of fourteen staff – the most I’d ever managed. Fifteen including myself and 35 players is an enormous challenge. I just hoped that I could find a way to harness our collective talent for good.

A tough decision had to be made for my goalkeeper coach. On the one hand my expensive prospect Lozano’s mentor apply but on the other, Joan Miquel Salavedra was interested in re-joining the club especially after working for me at Olot. In the end I decided to safeguard the future number one and ask Álvaro to come and join us instead. His ten year commitment to Rayo Majadahonda and three at close contact with Lozano clinched it. There was one coach who’s playing career surpassed all those that came before him and that experience was irresistible to me. Juanma Ortiz had La Liga games for Osasuna, Almería, and Granada. His career started at Atlético B in the B1 and B3 division but he soon played in the top division for the main side before being loaned out to Osasuna. He was not afraid to drop down to the Segunda and his goals earned a reprieve to La Liga with Almeríá. A big-money sale to Rangers in Scotland lasted only six months and he returned to the then-relegated side before the lure of La Liga’s Grenada came calling. He dropped down to Hércules before taking semi-retirement in Cyprus for three years. An improving stint at Jaen under-19s manager over two years earned his chance at being the caretaker for a month during that time, guiding them over one transfer window.

Álvaro and Ortiz would not make the Sants game but they would be ready for week two of the camp.

We had no scout report but we didn’t need it as Sants were rank amateurs that my Badalona did 8-0 this time last year. We drove down those winding Montjuïc roads expecting a box formation to stop our fun…

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180.

Lozano had totally outdone Manzanares in training this week. It made me consider who else had an eye on a first-team spot. With Fiuza struggling to fit in I thought about making him captain. It made a lot more sense when the best four players this week were reserve defenders, albeit one of them had been earmarked to play out of position on the left wing. If I let Paraguayan starlet Enríquez take the captain Vaquero’s place in defence, it made it easy to reward the others by switching things around.

Moreno and Rivas would tuck in from left centre back and left back to both be central defenders and Gran would be pulled back from an unfamiliar left-wing role to left back. That was more comfortable and the back five on the bench were in-form and, hopefully, tightly knit. The bench captain Vaquero would be able to corral the second eleven from a favourable position as our number ten. The young strikers that I had earmarked to play attacking midfield positions would now have to try their chance on the wings. Dani would move from right wing to left wing in order to accommodate José Javier on the right instead of the middle. It meant that both young strikers were playing on the wing but there was no challenging Daniel Miguel for that striker role. The all-rounder wanted Álex Gracia’s position and I have to be thankful to Peso for pointing out that he was leagues ahead of those other two lads.

Ogbonna was pushed slightly forward into central midfield as a left-footed defensive foil for Mendez in the double-pivot. Due to Vaquero starting from the bench, all of a sudden Diego and Nacho had to duke it out for a place in the team. The captain was most comfortable in either the central role or an advanced one behind the striker – maybe he wouldn’t be required at centre back after all! It’d make for a very interesting build-up for what we’d practiced. No-one was safe and that’s just how it should be. We had all seven of our league subs nailed on but I wanted a marquee signing as a morale boost.

Tactically, we would be very risky. Ortiz would be able to tune the finer details next week but I want a very attacking final third. For too long I had suffered with one man up top and now I had the right mix of player I could try something different. Sergio Alonso would take a deep-lying playmaker role on the left of the middle but Diego on his right would be given licence to attack the box. We had no defensive cover there at all. Four defensive defenders behind them would have to be very alert, too.

Nacho’s first role with the club was to get into the box and forge out chances for himself and others. If we could get Álex Gracia to use his natural talent for channel running in a trequartista role, we had every chance of overloading that defensive box formation. The idea was to get runners from deep or make defenders follow the striker and open up space. We’d trial getting the full-backs to join in, too.

Manzanares would try being a sweeper as his pace could really help us. After three weeks the season tickets were two-thirds sold. We were on target for 2 000 before a ball had even been kicked over in Palamós.

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181.

It was a breezy 26°C at Magoria. I was told that Sants could only name six substitutes, befitting their level. Jiménez said that he spoke with an official and they would in fact use a box 4-2-2-2 today. We regrouped in the dressing room. The players had a free pass for this one. I was calm. Remember this is pre-season; the result isn’t important, so relax and have some fun. The room looked in fair spirits but only the full backs appreciated the kind words. Jiménez took the chance to say that he expected a performance from them and Álex Gracia up front. I liked that he was throwing that weight around.

Four minutes after kick-off we were ahead. A free-kick from Sergio Alonso, near the corner flag, was headed in by Enríquez, who had to pull back from his marker to find space. It was satisfying to get rid of any nerves but I wanted to see us play football. Sergio Alonso was enjoying himself out there, and the playmaker found Serrano on the right wing a two minutes later. A low cross into the danger area was side-footed in by Álex Gracia at the back post. Sants were in disarray. They soon tightened it up.

I wanted Manzanares to stop wasting the ball so I asked him to give it to his fullbacks. They had to be better with the ball, too. A corner from the left on fifteen minutes was struck at goal by Fiuza but the ball hit the ankles of Enríquez and ricocheted clear. It fell as far as the captain again and he made no mistake with his second bite at the cherry! I checked my watch. Fifteen minutes. In the minutes that followed we looked very complacent, our body language a mess. The second eleven would get on at half time. A momentary lapse in concentration sent Sants away up our end of the field, a long kick of the ball falling behind our back line. Their forward scampered after it, Fiuza well out of position now, and he took a wonderful touch on the chest before sorting his feet out and slotting home at the near post. Their tails were up now and getting down our channels with gusto. Álex Gracia was doing really well, showing flashy touches to bring the wingers into play, and was a great outlet when we won the ball back. We would drop a little deeper to tease Sants out and be a little more prepared for any ball over the top. Enríque has a bit of class so he was allowed to hit any prospective balls for Álex Gracia.

A silly loose pass from Muniesa found the Sants right back and, like his colleague on the left, he was rewarded with an assist by hitting a long ball up to the striker. His confidence from the first goal saw him volley it in past a stranded Manzares. Five minutes from time - this game was food for thought.

We had to guard against complacency, now. Don’t go back out there thinking the job was done. It’s just what they needed to hear. The spine of the team looked calm and motivated by that. They had a chance to put it right by going out for another fifteen minutes, sitting narrow, and soaking up Sants.

Enríquez was now marking his man, making sure he would deny him the hat-trick. A nice early cross from Serrano found Gascón at back post to head at goal. The ‘keeper was equal to it but Álex Gracia beat Nacho to the rebound and put it away. Diego then took a Sergio Alonso ball and laid on a lovely through-ball for Serrano. The winger beat the defence to the ball and couldn’t miss. It is our second in five minutes and the perfect antidote to our earlier complacency. Well done. With the players in a state of confident calm, I took them all off. We would change our approach slightly, now looking for the overlap with attacking fullbacks and a target man leading the line. Vaquero would be playmaker.

A drinks break was used to relax the youngsters ahead of the last half an hour. Mendez and captain Vaquero looked deep in thought, knowing that there were places up for grabs already. José Javier is the first to take aim at goal, electing to take a free-kick. He curled it around the wall in. What a first touch! He then sent Ubis away down the right flank before Daniel Miguel thundered his shot off the crossbar. Ten minutes later Dani Miguel stroked home a deflected pass from José Javier but it was so lazily done as he knew he was offside anyway. We were looking totally uninterested and inside I was furious with Vauquero. I explained to Jiménez that I wanted us to keep the ball in the Sants half. He passed the message on to his former teammate but the game just petered out. José Javier was a real handful and had done enough to assure me that he deserved his original place as backup number 10.

I used my words cautiously. It was a good performance for a pre-season outing. We’re getting closer to where we need to be before our first competitive match. I was as delighted as the youngsters, yet it was reserved for the back five who were magnificent. Nacho would lose his place to José Javier for the next game, while Dani would come over to the right and Vaquero out on the left. These men had work to do. Cabral would have his report in my hand the next morning and confirmed that the data I asked for didn’t paint Dani in the best of lights. He had to be played in his true position and try again.

We’d look to take two tactical tweaks with us into the next game – distribution to the full-backs and setting a deeper line. The second eleven would start in next week’s first test against Palamós. Fan of the club Muniesa was already fit and setting an example to other players. The second string had new instructions in training as well as different roles now that I had seen them play. We would develop a controlling approach to get the best out of this young team. We were back training at Nou Municipal while Palamós did the same on the days we weren’t there. Within a day there were grumbles about training. Enríque wasn’t happy with extra tackling work, while Ubis, Gran, and Daniel Miguel moaned about their training.

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182.

Training had been very good with Ortiz martialling our general attacking, defending, and tactical play but the real surprise was the way the young players had finished the training camp. Xabier is pushing his way into the team, and he would be joined by another north-coast youngster. Miguel Roche had come in from Sporting Gijón’s academy and he could play from centre back to centre midfield. I saw both playing in the middle together and decided to give Sergio Alonso and Diego a rest. Their assists in the first game more than justified their inclusion in my first team later on. We got news of fixture movement before the game – the home game against Barcelona B was to be shown on television. I’d like to see us on TV because we were the big draw, one day. We had one win in thirteen, apparently.

Director of Football Manzano had found a part-time manager for the B team. In José Ramon Herrero we had no previous experience a good footballing philosophy and a speciality in working with young players. I trusted both men to get the job done between them. The floodlights were on at Municipal.

The spine of the team had changed. Moreno and Rivas at the back would operate a one go, one stay rotation while fullbacks Ubis and Gran would support attacking wingers Dani and Vaquero. Ogbonna would be our destroyer as he wasn’t too great with the ball at his feet. Mendez would sit next to him in a deeper role, spraying balls where he pleased. Nacho was tasked with being the senior playmaker in the side while Daniel Miguel would use his pace rather than his physicality this time around. We’d abandoned the sweeper keeper idea as we were sitting deeper anyway. There was licence to enjoy a creative evening and I made sure the players knew it. We had no idea what Palamós would do other than a basic 4-4-2. They had some part-time players and I’m sure Herrero was taking a look at them.

The coastal breeze had turned into a gust just in time for the start of the match. Palamós moved to a 4-4-1-1 in the warm-up so we should expect an aerial onslaught. I told them to concentrate on their fitness and on their performance, that’s all I’m looking for tonight. Jiménez didn’t feel the need to go further and the players seemed ready for the match ahead. Vaquero led us out of the dressing room.

Our white and sky blue hooped away kit was a lovely contrast to the yellow and blue stripes of hosts Palamós and maybe the players were too keen on the display, too, as our passes from the back were wayward. They were giving us a game, though, and that is what I wanted. A lovely release by the left winger Vaquero found Daniel Miguel down a channel with work to do. He didn’t flinch and rolled an underweight shot past the onrushing ‘keeper for the breakthrough inside ten minutes. Lovely finish!

Nacho was orchestrating the game now and Vaquero was trying to get on the end of moves to push himself ahead in the pecking order as he could see it too. Moreno, stepping out from the back, and Ogbonna had let the game settle. Specifically ordered to close down and speed up their passing, we tried to push for a second. After half an hour we told our wide men to hold up the ball as it was just coming back to the fullbacks anyway. We found a little more success by coming narrower again. Just the one goal was perhaps the cost of our creativity – we were losing the ball over medium distances.

I was pleased with how things were going but I wanted another goal before the hour, and their time, was up. We had missed a fair few half-chances in the box in the first half and Dani added to the tally with a volley wide when he had time to take a touch and score. He really wasn’t happy on the right.

We had a good crowd of over a thousand surely and it was roughly split between the fans. We were very, very good on the ball and I hoped the fans could see the philosophy we were trying to achieve.

As another chance went begging, this time for Daniel Miguel from a superb Mendez pass, the fourth official made it clear that we were making wholesale changes and that a drinks break was needed. If Roche was your archetype box-to-box midfielder, then Xabier was the Basque aggresive attacker of the two. José Javier would be told to get into his natural striker position as much as he can from the number ten position. With him and Álex Gracia to look for, Xabier should have a great half hour out there. We would drop to a standard mentality to see where we were with this system as the last one had been tailored for possession. This was about getting bodies forward. I asked them to show me a performance, something Fiuza and Roche seemed to take umbrage at. The rain then started to pour.

There was some fantastic build-up play but we were struggling to create clear chances. Rather than holding the ball on the wing I asked them to always look forward. We pushed up for the last ten. The reward came minutes later as a free-kick was won near the goal-line on the left wing. Agudo decided to trot over and take an in-swinger and it met the head of Álex Gracia for 2-0. Another Agudo swing from the right this time found Fiuza at the far post and it was three! He really was deadly from there.

Álex Gracia made it four with his second brace in two games. We were absolutely bossing possession into injury time and some quick-thinking by Enríquez, recycling the ball forward rather than to Fiuza, found the talisman a pocket of space behind the defence and just far enough away from the ‘keeper to make him commit. He diminutive forward popped his head under the bottom of the ball, flicking it over flailing arms and into the net. It was hard not to get carried away when we looked so good on the ball, so coherent with each other. I was very pleased with the result and performance. However, a small niggle in my mind warned me of my goalkeeper and wingers’ collective complacency. I had to sign some alternative choices in those outfield positions, certainly. Thankfully we had no injuries.

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183.

The first of two midweek games against local opposition was Guixols. In the match training back at Palamós, two youths not involved with the training camp in Barcelona were hugely impressive with their commitment. Nacho Ripa, who idolised Head of Youth Development Peso from their time spent together at Ebro, was a two-footed full-back. His speed, bravery, and work rate suited a much more central role and I would drop Roche back into the second eleven defence alongside Fiuza. The other player was Dennis, a resolute young midfielder from our under-19s. Again, that determination and a work rate to match got him in alongside Ogbonna for this one. The changes came at the expense of Enríquez and Mendez, two young men on the cusp of the first team, who had shown me enough for their chance. Ripa was asked to concentrate on winning the ball back – both he and Ogbonna were being primed for unfamiliar but vital roles in any B3 system. We needed the other prospects to take note of what was happening here. Dennis didn’t even have a contract yet - everyone gets a chance.

We would not be altering the pitch at Palamós after one game but we would have to sort out shape out to accommodate the elders. We would make ourselves narrow in order to win the ball better, as the deep line covered our lack of pace at the back. Win bonuses would be looked at next season, for I wanted them to concentrate on their football this year. It’s the only thing that was going to change.

A midweek game in the next two weeks meant that we had less time to work on fitness. Jiménez had suggested that we double down in that regard, save the first team for the weekends, and recover on days off in between. Manzano sent an email regarding contracts – only ten were up at the end of the year. This was hugely impressive and a testament to how Tarragó ran things from the top down. The only real worries there were Mendez and Daniel Miguel. We would look to sit down with them soon.

Dani would be moved into the middle, Nacho on the right, to try and get something from him. I told him to get into the box for Nacho and Vaquero’s crosses while Daniel Miguel would drop deeper, so we could see how we could best use his dribbling ability. It suited all parties but it was Dani’s last go.

Jose Javier didn’t excel as a second striker so he would be tried on the left with Dani in the middle, a mirror image of the first game. Vaquero would also be playing in his third position for us on the right but he was such an all-round player that he could handle it. What I need from him is a performance.

Guixols saw us coming and lined up in a 4-2-2-2 box formation, just like Sants did. We wouldn’t get a day out in our Barcelona colours again, though. That was reserved for the capital against an all-white home side. Guixols wore sea blue with black trim. In the dressing room, this young side immediately fell quiet and looked up in admiration. They had bought in to our ideas already. Relax and enjoy the run-out today. Jiménez rustled the hair of young Dennis and told him there was no pressure on him.

Dani scored a header inside the first minute! He started a nice move and let play build down the side Vaquero was owning. A cross came in from Ubis and found its man. It should have been two inside a further two minutes but José Javier’s free-kick led to a disallowed goal. He was really doing well from set-pieces and found Ogbonna who knocked it down for the captain, who had just strayed offside. If we were guilty of resting on our laurels that was fine. I welcome more creative freedom to help out.

We were taking pot-shots at goal now, a real training game. Dennis was being given time and space on the ball and played a wonderful diagonal ball for José Javier to latch onto. That move eventually found its way to Dani who stroked it home from near the penalty spot. Dani Miguel had come wide and squared the ball to his strike partner for 2-0. We had to work a little harder for the last fifteen or so minutes, so I told Jiménez to let them know we had to really go for it now and kill the game dead.

Ogbonna got the goal he deserved, staying forward for a short corner and volleying in Vaquero’s hit.

A rare moment of complacency in injury time saw Guixols break. Faced with a foot race against the striker, Moreno was second best all day long and when he finally got there he clumsily tripped their forward and gave away a penalty. The ball struck the ‘keeper’s right post and Rivas cleared to save his partner’s blushes. We got away with that. We would really push them in the second half to work.

A host of half-time changes for Guixols freshened things up for them and we struggled to get down their end of the pitch when the loose balls were mopped up. We had to slow things down again and control the game. Ripa and Xavier were on and both would be given licence to do as they please. Our Basque youth was allowed to roam the field while Ripa chased the ball. We wanted to open them up and we were prepared to sacrifice the battle for midfield. They settled well, especially Xavier, and I asked the team to stop closing down for the last half hour and try and let Xabier be our creative one.

The three attacking midfielders were on for the last fifteen minutes, immediately looking like they’d rather be somewhere else. Nacho had a very good free-kick palmed away and eventually they did ok but the real star of the second half was Xabier. His range of passing was a sight to behold even at the level we are. When the final whistle came I gathered the players around, trying not to appear overly happy with what I saw. The back five were singled out for their excellent all-round display. It was an excellent 90 minutes for them and Daniel Miguel in particular. I knew already that I could trust them.

We had brought 500 fans to the game and they would go home happy. Next up was a game for local Llagostera natives.

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184.

Things were still happening behind the scenes. Manzano had now brought in an assistant for B team manager Herrero. His name was Ángel Vázquez and he had been number two at the Barcelona youth side Damm for two years in the under-19s league, where they succumbed to relegation second time around. They were back this season but a year out of work may have affected the man’s confidence.

The press, meanwhile, were busy putting two and two together and making five. In Alfredo Gutiérrez there was a natural goal scorer, of that there was no doubt. The Olot bloodhound was the catalyst in our cup win, his pace and finishing surprising everyone in B3 in the second half of that season. I want to sign a striker – what manager doesn’t? But there had been no interest at all. Yet with the figure of € 35 000 being banded around, I asked Corominas to find out everything he could from our old club.

Fiuza had been particularly poor in training – I couldn’t tolerate that from a vice-captain. He was out of the squad entirely. Ogbonna replaced him at the back and would be joined by Roche who earned his place previously. Vaquero would come in for Nacho in the number ten role after finding an assist on each wing he played. Nacho would be another that misses out, purely because of prospect Manu Vallejo impressing during midweek. The former Vallodolid youth left Toledo B after struggling to gain a starting spot. He liked a long shot and would be flanked by a much-improved José Javier and Dani.

Tactically, we would operative a little differently to suit Vaquero’s lack of athleticism. He would sit in the hole, look for Diego to run past him from central midfield, and encourage Gascón to come inside and do the same. If the we could tap into the winger’s flair for the unknown we could have a system on our hands here. Roche would step out and look to play the ball forward from the back, hopefully mitigating our lack of any real defensive cover in the midfield. As local rivals, Cassà would come at us but we would sit deep and narrow. We would look to play the ball on the deck, play it the right way.

Cabral finally came good with a team report when it mattered. Cassà had just been beaten 0-9 which didn’t really help us but even though Girona were affiliated with them they didn’t take it easy. 4-4-2 was their system, they liked a direct pass, and focusing attacks down their left. Our right wing should have a field day as they were so vulnerable in the box. Meanwhile, the B team had a head physio on the books now. Emmanuel Luque was the latest part-time cog in the machine. I had a week to make a decision on which players would drop down to that level. I couldn’t keep all 35 players happy in B3.

Francisco Javier Planas was signed as chief scout the very next day. A year at Damm in the same role alongside new assistant manager Vazquez was his only work history but at least Manzano was keen to keep it as Catalan as he could. In conversation he mentioned the bookmakers had us down as one of the three most likely to be relegated, alongside Ebro and Eldense. Europa would have a long hard season and Alzira should be worried about the relegation play-off spot, apparently. Had Barcelona B been tipped to win the league? He laughed, knowing that I couldn’t care less about odds or betting.

Dennis picked up a thigh strain – our first injury of the summer – and I feared it would affect his will to work so hard in training. I didn’t want him to be a one-appearance wonder in pre-season. Before the game, three inexperienced coaches would join the B team. Mariano Silos, Alfredo Alarcón, and Andrés Gutiérrez were in as goalkeeping, fitness, and general coach respectively. Our season tickets had nearly sold their projection already!

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185.

Municipal de Cassà was a sell-out. A little cooler inland, the mountain breeze still remained. Their kit of all white meant we had our famous hoops on again, which was great as here we were a lot closer to our true home of Llagostera. The home side sprung a real surprise with their 3-5-2 wingback style.

Pre-season or not, you’ve got to win matches like this. Jiménez excused Roche from the pressure but I wish he hadn’t. The kid needs to learn that derbies are derbies. Álex Gracia got us underway, giving the ball to Roche. A touch of class from the senior striker. A few minutes later, Sergio Alonso and our captain Vaquero looked like they’d been playing together for years. There was a real understanding.

Serrano fizzed a shot past the post after good work from Diego. We just had to move the ball quick.

We passed the first test of a deep wide free-kick from Cassà and Diego won the ball back outside the area, starting a counter-attack. Serrano burned his way up the right wing but his cross was real poor.

He atoned a minute later with a whipped ball for Gascón to rise highest to but the ball was tipped on to the bar and out. We finally had use for the winger’s height, him coming inside like that. Vaquero is on one and I told him to use that energy to chase down the opposition. We had to work for chances.

Cassà took the lead on half an hour. Their high line gave credence to the wingbacks and the ball was shifted from right to left, back inside and drilled home by the striker. Roche perhaps should have got nearer his man but it was their first shot. We responded immediately and without mercy, like a wild wounded lion. A corner from Sergio Alonso was headed down by Vaquero to Gascón. Roche nearly tapped it in but the challenge came in, the ball falling to Álex Gracia to rifle home. Now we counter.

Ogbonna hoofed the ball up for the striker to chase. One, two, three touches by Álex Gracia and he fluffed the shot. We would try pumping the ball up to him or Gascón to see out the half. I wanted a lot more from them in the second half. There is no excuse for not working hard. They were fired up.

We would open up our width to deal with their five in the middle. Muniesa found the trequartista, another three touches behind the defence, and again he didn’t score. It looked harder to miss that.

After another set-up by the local hero, who up until then was having a poor game, I decided to take off the misfiring striker on the hour and let Daniel Miguel show us what he’s made of. Diego then hit a ball over the top for Vaquero who tried to lob the ‘keeper from outside the box. He was a lot more involved after being told to stop harassing the back three. The game was getting away from us here.

Xabier and Ripa were on in the double pivot. Fresh legs and fresh endeavour. They were right in the action from the off, Ripa collecting a loose ball and teeing up the Basque midfielder for a decent go.

Daniel Miguel set us off on a decent counter, playing a sideways pass to Serrano who saw Gascón on the far side in space. The inverted winger took it down and skewed his shot wide. We couldn’t score!

The counter approach was rushing it. Xabier, in his roaming role, was now everywhere. Able to keep up, he now brought others into the game. Gascón then missed an absolute sitter in front of goal. We didn’t know what to make of it. The deep cross from Serrano was on a plate for him. He headed out.

By my count we had nearly twenty shots to their two or three. It simply wasn’t good enough in front of goal. I let them know it.

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186.

A number of free agents approached the club, Ivan Guzman being one of them. Again I asked chief of scouting Corominas to run the rule over a former teammate. As so many of them called up, the small list was passed on requiring full reporting. Let’s make sure that no pre-season stone is left unturned.

Determined to make our third and fourth strikers adept at playing on the wing, Dani was moved over to the right as a Raumdeuter, hanging off the shoulder of the fullback. José Javier was to be our wide playmaker on the left with Vallejo attacking the box from the middle. Mendez would be chained to a defensive role on Dani’s side of the pitch but he would be sat alongside Sergio Alonso, due to captain Vaquero’s lack of fitness, who had to pass the ball to the left wing. The reason was for Daniel Miguel to be given complete freedom up at top, and if he didn’t get the ball coming in from that left, Dani is there to mop up. Vallejo was the distraction for the opposition central defenders. At the back, senior due Enríquez and Fiuza were recalled to cover Vauqero’s absence. Palafrugell were a 4-4-2 team too.

Back down on the coast, the breeze had dissipated but the heat had not. We should enjoy this one, I told the lads. Jiménez did his usual arm around the should for the young player, this time Vallejo was the one feeling the love. It was important that these words came from him, as a player liaison figure.

We didn’t expect the black shirts of Palafrugell to line up in a diamond formation and it caught us off guard. As soon as we settled, we scored. Mendez took a cleared corner, squared it to Vallejo, and he saw the young midfielder take a touch and drill it into the bottom corner from just inside the penalty area. What a finish. We still had a lot of work to do out there, though, as we were losing key battles.

After a scare at the back with another ball over the top, Dani showed his aerial prowess by knocking down a Sergio Alonso cross for Daniel Miguel to volley home. It was great teamwork all round for 2-0 and the move all started from José Javier coming inside trying to make something happen. A delight.

Wonderful interplay between the two forwards got our third just before 30 minutes. Taking the ball in his stride, Daniel Miguel drove into the space Dani was occupying, exchanged passes around their full back, and slotted low across the goalkeeper who could do nothing about the finish. An excellent goal and it was followed a minute later by a fourth, Daniel Miguel chasing a lost cause and crossing in for Dani to head home unmarked. These four forward positions were dovetailing beautifully well.

Diego was on for the at times complacent-looking Sergio Alonso but he needed the fitness and a try in a playmaker position from the middle of the park. José Javier took a knock to the knee just before half time but he was determined to play through it, especially as there was now set pieces for grabs.

Four changes were made on the hour, with the front four all being replaced. To a man they were so uninterested it wasn’t funny. We pushed higher up to make them think a bit more but still we were useless in the final third. Palafrugell even hit the bar with a shot from a corner! Only a superb sliding tackle from Enríquez in injury time kept the clean sheet. Overall I as very happy with the eleven that started the match so I didn’t want the senior pro’s lack of application to sully that. José Javier would be out for one or two days with a bruised knee and so it was a good decision to keep him on, in the end. We had a crunch game against competitive rivals Xátiva up next as our final friendly.

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187.

Pere Grau, another fullback like Ripa who found the route to the first time full of competition, saw it for what it was – train well and you will play. Vallejo would make way for the hot prospect, with our captain moving into the number ten spot in that second eleven. Grau had all the attributes to try his hand at a ball-winning role in the middle of the park. He would sit next to Nacho in the middle, with Diego doing much better and earning a shot at the number ten position in the first eleven. Mendez, as well as Enríquez, had done enough to start as part of the first team. Vaquero would take the role in the hole if Diego didn’t pass his one opportunity with flying colours. Another one we wanted more from was Muniesa. A wingback role would really help us out with Gascón coming inside, although we would curtail their attacking with a counter mentality. The onus on attack was only with the top two.

There weren’t enough games to see all these youngsters - I arranged an under-19s game next week.

Xátiva hadn’t won all pre-season but they were no pushovers, conceding more than one goal once in a 1-3 loss to Liga 1 2 3 side Alcorón. They played an unusual three men box with two wingers and the striker isolated from the rest of the team. By the time the game came around we had sold over 2 000 season tickets. Tarragó was very happy with that and praised my decision to play games around such thoughtful Costa Brava locations. Next year we could bring the big boys to Nou Municipal for a price.

Manzano decided to bring a player in the day we submitted our 22-man squad for the season. It was done purely on age and I felt sorry for Amadou N’Diaye who had not even been given an opportunity to show us what he had. Ruben Aizpurua was in the door for the B team but he had to duck to make it – he was 197 cm tall. At 22 he still had a lot to learn, not least Catalan as he came from the Basque country. Hernani were a youth side associated with Real Sociedad but were an under-19s team, just like Damm, although they used to be a league team in their own right a decade ago. Another similar trait to Damm was that they were a year out of that under-19 league after being relegated. I wasn’t so sure that this signing was such a good idea. Was his height a novelty? I had to trust Manzano now.

It was a wet evening at Nou Municipal and Xátiva brought their full compliment of substitutes. This is going to be fun, I thought. Go out there and show me what you’ve got. There are places up for grabs.

The away side kicked off, all in white and set up with a 4-4-1-1 formation. Our red and blue hoops on top of blue shorts and blue socks looked irresistible. Sergio Alonso got a sight at goal with a free-kick in the first minute but it curled wide. The counter was dropped so that we could play shorter passes.

We were perhaps having too much of the ball. Gascón, continually surprising us with his ability with the ball at his feet, fed the ball back to wing-back Muniesa to rifle a cross in. Serrano was there to hit it as hard as he could on the volley and it nearly tore a hole in the net! 1-0 to Llagostera! Against his former club, too. We settled well after that, making chances as and when we could. Sergio Alonso hit another free-kick and this time it was parried clear. A second goal was imminent but it nearly went to the wrong team, Enríquez misjudging a long ball and allowing the striker to shoot at a tight angle.

This is why we go through pre-season, all of your hard work now will pay off later in the campaign. I want you to keep going! Praise was in scant supply. We would come out looking to control the game.

We were doing a better job now of targeting their wingers and striker. It led to aggressive play which in turn forced a corner. The ball fell to Mendez, who looked up and saw Fiuza back-peddling to get in some space. He weighted a perfect ball for the vice-captain to wrap his left foot around it and curl a strike into the roof of the net for 2-0. A wave of changes came for Xátiva, who had given up all hope.

Grau was on for Sergio Alonso and Mendez was asked to be a little more proactive with a destroyer now next to him. A complacent Álex Gracia made way for Daniel Miguel to cause havoc at the back.

A triple substitution after 20 minutes of the second half saw Diego come on and join Grau in the two while Dani and José Javier were given their recent roles. With fifteen minutes remaining Vaquero got some time with the first-team. He was allowed to do as he pleased, naturally. We were playing some inventive stuff but I wanted one more clear chance for 3-0 by the end of the match. Could we get it?

We pushed too hard. Xátiva were playing keep-ball into the last few minutes. Grau was going after a host of players on his own but Manzares was equal to any shot they mustered – it was great to see.

After an unnecessary five minutes of added time, I spoke frankly to the men and boys in the dressing room. It was a good performance out there -  let’s make sure you can do that when it really matters.

With a week to go until the transfer window shuts, I was seriously considering N’Diaye’s place in the squad. No other player had regressed in front of my eyes but him – he needed games but I couldn’t give them to him. The friendly against the under-19s would see him at least pull on a Llagostera top but so would Aizpurua, the man he was directly competing with. That being said, I had to talk to our chief scout Corominas about which players he was confident he knew everything about. We couldn’t risk any disasters with our € 200 000 transfer fund. 15% of that on Gutiérrez, however, was different.

As Jiménez and I made our way back to Llagostera, leaving the players in Palamós, we talked about a second look at Xátiva…

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188.

Marc would start in goal, with former under-19s goalkeeper Joan on the bench, and Merino, on loan from Barakaldo, in reserve. In truth we couldn’t find a place for him and he may just be sent back up.

Ripa and Grau would play at fullback. José Juan was a fierce competitor in the middle, and he would play in the same role as Toti on the bench. Both had played bit-part roles in the B team last year and were mainly left-wingers but I saw something else in them. Roche and Ogbonna would be the heart of our seconds while Ubis and Gran were pushed forward into wing roles in the reserve lot, with the normal second choice defence splitting to right and left back in Moreno and Rivas. We had to see if they could all do this. Lanky signing Aizpurua and Fiuza would sit in as our starting central partners. 

Andrea Ortuño, another ex-B team member would sit in the middle alongside José Juan. Dennis had to do the same in the second eleven with Toti, having already impressed us. This left us with the two attacking midfielders – Xabier and Vallejo – who would start on the wings. Vaquero would be rested in the second string so that we had a captain on the field at all times, while Dani pips José Javier for the striker position that they both coveted. We would use inside-forwards in Xabier and Vallejo but N’Diaye would sit in an enganche role due to his lack of fitness – I didn’t want him to move, I wanted to see what he could do with the ball at his feet. Dani was a defensive forward, sacrificing for a team.

Seeing the schoolboys in our away kit at Nou Municipal really brought home how much of a family I thought we were. Our de facto under-19s were in the home kit for pride’s sake. Peso had drilled his charges in a rigid 4-4-2 but it was a hot and windy day – mistakes were bound to happen today. Still, they settled against their more esteemed opponents and we were not doing too well with a football.

We needed wingback support. After half an hour, the standard was so poor from both sides that we began to remonstrate with each other on the side-lines. Dani had to stop chasing shadows and start making runs. Forget about defending boys and try and score a goal! José Juan was majestic, winning the ball back and setting us on our way. Clever football from Dani brought all of the midfielders into the game and eventually it was teed up for Ortuño to stroke home a low curling effort from outside the box for 1-0. The assist and second assist came from Xabier and Vallejo respectively. The creative duo were finally making their mark. Vallejo then had a hand in forcing an own goal from the centre back and we were two up before the break. Xabier was a cut above out there – perhaps he and José Juan were the future of our midfield two. Don’t look at the scoreboard and think the job is done, we have to pick up where we just left off. You’re all going back out for another fifteen minutes at least.

The hour passed and we had no more chances but neither did they. Wholesale changes were made, except for the enganche role which would stay for Vaquero. Traditional defensive fullbacks and then wingers ahead of them busied themselves behind a defensive striker. Really poor play from Roche or Ogbonna, I’m not sure who was calling for it, meant that neither picked up their man and Llagostera under-19s halved the deficit with a neat one-two straight down the middle between their forwards.

Gran and Ubis showed great understanding to play out from the back following a corner. They fed an unusually exuberant Vaquero, who looked up and found the run of Dennis for 3-1, via an Ubis cross.

That was a bit of a let-off. We weren’t good enough out there and there would be tough decisions to make about who was going to be playing B team football next season. Most of them were fired up at the thought but, really, it was too late. Some players just weren’t going to be considered for a squad.

The goalkeeper situation was easy to resolve – Marc would join the B team and Joan the under-19s. I was told that they had both not quite nailed down the number one spot in those respective teams in the last season so now would be their chance. Merino, the loanee, would stay as first squad backup.

Gran and Ubis had come in during the summer but they would be absolute backup at best. We need them to play and they were used to B team football last season. Ripa and Grau were still excellent in pre-season but their path was similarly blocked, so under-19s football would suit them well. We had more than enough cover across the back with Moreno and Rivas, and Roche, who had all come in for a chance at football from the Segunda División above. It would later allow us to play three together.

Ogbonna was primed for the B team after breaking through at Lleida’s, and Aizpurua looked dreadful with the ball at his feet so he went back down to the B team. In an ideal world we would get all nine playing positions filled in each of the other sides and have 18 in the first team, leaving us room to get transfers, but that theory didn’t account for the amount of players that had dropped down a division to play for us in Palamós. Toti would be sent down on the proviso he was used. With Gran able to fill in at the middle, it made sense to drop Toti down to the B team as well. If Ogbonna was moved into Herrero’s preferred defensive screen position, Toti would drop to left back. It was a malleable setup.

José Joan would ideally be sat next to him. Initially trained as a left winger coming inside, his mental abilities and preferred right foot meant he was an engine room player all day long. Dennis was a real talent and to ensure he played weekly in the middle, he went off to work with Peso and the youths.

Ortuño would join him. Somehow he had started his career with us in the B team and ended up with the youth team, making token appearances with the first team. Five were being held back in total.

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189.

I changed staff responsibilities around in light of Manzano’s terrible eye for B team players. I would take back control of player comings and goings but I would want him to report on what he would do with the first team. He would have better advice than ability, I’m sure. Jiménez would now only tell me about staff and training while Ortiz would give tactical advice and report on player development.

The B team and under-19s were free to use whatever tactics they felt suited them but the case was clear: Ripa and Grau were to be used and fullbacks but trained as destroyers, while Dennis and our enigma Ortuño were to play and train as different kinds of playmakers. There were two partnerships in there somewhere. Joan would keep goal but every other position was up to Peso and the youths.

In the B team, Marc had the gloves and I would expect a back four of Ubis, Aizpurua, Ogbonna, and Gran. José Juan and Toti would sit in front of them whatever the system, unless Ogbonna played in the defensive hole, Gran came inside, and Toti filled in at left back. He could have use of the youth side but after a year I wanted to see Aizpurua gone and José Joan swapping age groups with Ortuño.

On Saturday morning I held a meeting with director of football Manzano and the scouting team. We had two days to pull off a transfer, one squad registration space available, and 24 first team players.

Gentlemen, what can you tell me? Well, boss, there are only two players we know everything about. Corominas still called me boss. It was a nice touch. There are eleven we know something about, and of those eleven eight or nine could be interested in a move. We have an enormous backlog to get on with during the next month or two but right now almost all of the players we know about would do the business for us. After dismissing out of hand any positions that didn’t interest me, like left backs or goalkeepers, and weeding out 20-something La Liga starlets in attack, the sample became small.

Jorge Morcillo was a very good if very old centre back for Almeria. He had just been told that he was surplus to requirements at the Liga 1 2 3 side after five middling seasons but his wages were more than three times what we were paying anyone else. Ivan Guzman was a year out of the game, and I was hesitant to offer league football to my former Olot winger. His versatility would be very useful, though, but the elephant in the room was one Alfredo Gutiérrez. His wages were killing Olot so he’d be available for loan if we wanted him. The report wasn’t quite finished but Corominas conceded the truth – he would be the best striker at the club but would he fit in? For a year’s wage contribution of € 50 000 it was worth a shot. Two conditions were vital – Olot couldn’t recall but we could send him back. It had to work in our favour. If we bought him that might double or treble our financial outlay.

By 10:45 the offer had been submitted and negotiated. Jiménez joined me on a trip to Barcelona to see Espanyol B take on Mallorca in the Segunda B3 curtain-raiser. Still no word from Gutiérrez or his agent by evening kick-off…

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190.

Mallorca were scintillating at the start of the game, their technique and application a joy. Espanyol B took their time to plug the gaps but they did it well. It would be an awful mistake that would lead to the breakthrough, experienced defensive midfielder Imanol skewing a pass into the path of Mallorca and Prats seized on the through-ball, tucking it under the ‘keepers arm, in off the near post and 1-0.

Pretty soon the young Espanyol side couldn’t cope, Prats causing them all sorts of problems through the middle. Credit to the manager, though, who again found the answers to this new direct style of play from the islanders. Goalkeeper Álex had been the best player on the park by half an hour, two enormous saves keeping the score respectable. The visitors responded with a two-man press every time Espanyol tried to get the ball down and play it. Left winger Seguin, who laid on the assist, struck the post after being slipped a pass from the goalscorer. With Prats coming deep for set-pieces and Seguin taking them, Jiménez commented that this is already be the best partnership in the division.

With five minutes to Espanyol finally had a shot in anger but it was well wide. Mallorca came again. Diona, scorer of the second in that injury-time double salvo against my Badalona side last year, had stung the ‘keeper’s hands after neat running from the right. He was a good striker - Prats was great.

After the break, it was clear that the home side were looking to lose 0-1 – on the opening day of the season! Their players were exhausted and finally they took off the ghost that was supposedly their striker. Álex palmed away shot after shot – their second change at the back completely broke down what Espanyol were trying to achieve. We knew that the match was being televised and it seemed for all the world as if Mallorca were ready to challenge for the title again. Their defence and two in the middle were watertight. Pre-season fitness issues meant the game finished in a sluggish manner but there was no doubting the effervescence – they even found time to counter attack in injury time but the shot was skewed wide. The final whistle blew and we were all tired for Espanyol’s hard day.

Still no word from Gutiérrez. We had twelve hours until kick-off. Is this not going to happen today?

We gathered the squad on the training field, ready to board the bus ahead of a six hour journey past Valencia. We had left it late to announce the team but I said I was working on getting someone into the club to be our 25th man. Manzanares gets to keep goal on account of his seniority for now, and if I used that logic then Agudo stays, too. Muniesa was number one in terms of effort so his place was never in doubt. The other two were just short of match sharpness, as was Álex Gracia who also gets a start. The best youth trainers earned their place on the bench: Moreno, Rivas, Xabier, Vallejo, and I’m glad to say N’Diaye. Roche would join Daniel Miguel in getting minutes due to their training play.

I would disappoint six or seven senior professionals regularly. The first time would be the hardest. I decided to disappoint the younger players and go with seniority on day one. Vaquero and Fiuza had the captaincy and vice-captaincy locked down in central defence. Nacho had to have a niche, so we put him alongside Sergio Alonso and allowed Diego to attack the box from the number ten position.

Gascón would still come inside from the left, Serrano bombing down the right, but big real change would see Vaquero bring the ball out from the back. We’d sit him a little deeper to cope with pace.

We got to Alzira and the B3 results filtered in. It was terrifying to hear Barcelona B had put six past Eldense this afternoon. Badalona drew 0-0 at Ebro…

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  • 2 weeks later...

 191.

I had not lost to a César Laínez team so far, whether he was in charge of Zaragoza B or Alzira, or I in charge of Olot, Santa Eulalia, or Badalona. It was some record. We both survived relegation last year but only just. He would have seen our ex-Zaragoza players coming through the ranks when he was in charge of the second side and, briefly, senior side. I expected Sergio Alonso, Gascón, and Álex Gracia to want to put one over a manager that didn’t select them. We had worked on set-pieces in the days before but first day of the season was a complete unknown. Alzira hadn’t lost a pre-season game yet either so we told the men to go out there and take it seriously. The four pillars of our pre-season had been all about staying compact and working the ball from one box to the other. Let’s not forget that.

We needed to believe, so a number of tweaks were raised. Muniesa had to attack that left flank with Gascón unable to offer that penetration, and Agudo had to support a marauding right-wing Serrano. However, these were things to deal with once the game had settled. For now, we set up defensively.

In the middle we would use Nacho’s natural fitness to provide box-to-box support for Sergio Alonso who, despite his ability, had to hold back and keep the ball moving so he could protect the back four.

Diego finally had a chance at a playmaker role at number ten and I hoped he would grasp it quickly, for Álex Gracia would sit in a deep-lying role as they had a four-man box in front of the goalkeeper.

Cabral’s analysis told us to watch out for their number eight as he unlocked the front four. Today it was Boix. With the wingers taking high positions we may need to readjust our passing lanes quickly.

We still wanted to stick to our core principles where we could, and the players were encouraged to support each other. In the dressing room I asked for them to impress me – we had seven substitutes.

The white and sky-blue hoops of Llagostera’s away days were back and Álex Gracia kicked us off. The cagey opening minutes saw Boix and Mateo, the number ten, fed the ball so we sought to interrupt that love-in. Muniesa was wild with his passing so we told him to slow it down, stop being so rash. If Alzira got the ball down it was in very wide positions, and one of those positions led to their goal. An incisive ball in behind Vaquero from the left touchline found their striker Diego who, cool as you like, stroked home past the ‘keeper to send the home fans into raptures. We were deep, we were narrow but the pace at the back wasn’t there. Five minutes later we put together a fine move that made me think this team has mettle. Our Diego, who must be due a nickname soon, was finding pockets inside their half and played in Serrano down the right. He got it back, turned and looked to play a one-two off Álex Gracia who came deep. The striker had other ideas. He swept a left foot around the corner for Gascón to get on the blind side of his man, run onto the ball and clip it over their ‘keeper for 1-1.

Vaquero had to tighten up on their striker Diego. Left-back Martos was seeing a lot of the ball and it meant that Madrazo on the left had room to feed the man up front. We’d close them both down. It was now that Serrano’s defensive capabilities were needed. Kike Torrent was a rock at the back for Alzira and we had to either whip it in or keep it low. Diego and Gascón’s passing was losing the ball. The latter was asked to find more channels and attack them – the right-back was vulnerable. Diego had to just keep it simple and be an outlet. We didn’t get a chance to see if it would work as Alzira’s left flank did for us again. Martos to Madrazo, both very wide and beating their men, whipped it into the box and underneath the crossbar. Manzanares drops it! Diego taps in the loose ball and it is 1-2.

The cojones of this team are incredible. Diego fed a cross-field ball to his right winger, he knew that Serrano had to put his body on the line if he was going to get there. Penalty! Martos crashed into us.

Álex Gracia steps up. The left-footer takes a deep breath. Saved! A weak penalty to the ‘keeper’s left and Alzira are spared by Flor’s heroics in goal. Five minutes later Diego should have had his hat-trick, a curling effort clipping the far post. We could just not deal with Alzira’s ability to get the ball from a wide position into the middle. The pace of individual players was phenomenal on the break. Mateo won the ball in his own box with a crunching tackle and within seconds he was past the centre circle.

Martos picked up a booking and we looked to capitalise. Serrano had to attack that flank, get to the by-line. Gascón would now come inside on the other flank to be a second body for whipped crosses.

The second half began. Rivas was on for his professional debut at centre-back, with clear instruction to drop deep and mop-up where Vaquero faultered. Fiuza got caught in possession and nearly gifted their Diego a third just before half time. Rivas had settled in well with the core social group, so it was no risk. We needed his left foot and his pace. We had to stop being so narrow, too. Diego was again asked to spread play as much as he could. It was time for us to dig in and give everything we’ve got!

With chances at a premium, Álex Gracia blew a counter with a poor pass. He was having a nightmare up front. We had tried to get forward and were punished, Madrazo again beating Agudo outside, the superb cross coming in for Diego to score with a half-volley on the hour. It had been coming. Daniel Miguel was on up top but Serrano was the man sacrificed. He wasn’t yet ingratiated with the squad, so Álex Gracia went wide right, ordered to look inside and win another penalty. We were really going for this. Daniel Miguel would spearhead the attack and run at them. We couldn’t just sit back and be beat.

The problem was that we just couldn’t keep the ball at all. Alzira were living in the trenches, waiting.

With twenty minutes to go, Nacho was fading fast and I needed togetherness on the field. Vallejo is on, his league experience pushing him above all other candidates, and asked to play his natural flow in the middle of the park. We had to get on the ball and get crosses into the box. Daniel Miguel had not even touched it yet. Time was running out and we couldn’t create anything against this amazing box that Alzira had. It snuffed out everything. It punished us severely, a fourth goal arriving from our free-kick. Boix brought four men with him out of their box, fed a ball over the top for the speedy run of Mateo who crossed low for Diego. He missed it! But it fell to the substitute winger on the far side.

Tactically, we had no answer for them. Álex Gracia’s penalty was a long, long time ago and we’d only managed two further shots since. Alzira were well into double figures. We managed one more, a ball into the channel worked back inside for Daniel Miguel to miss from point-blank range. It just really is not coming off for us. The match became bitty and Alzira were stroking the ball around with zest. If I had any doubts about the striking situation before the game then I was wracked with them after this showing. We didn’t have a target man and we didn’t have a poacher. We had an auxiliary forward or a young player learning his trade. It wasn’t good enough. The referee blew his whistles and off they came, dejected and nervous about what I had to say. They were right to be. I did not hold back with my language, at times colourful, in how I did not expect that sort of performance. They were fired up and they needed to be. It was a long journey home and I needed them to be angry. They had three times as many shots us out there. Ten debuts in the fourteen men used was no excuse. We’ve stuck together for two months worked so hard but they let three or four players look world-class tonight.

I had learnt a lot about this team, though. There was definitely character there, very nearly getting the equaliser twice in quick succession. Agudo and Muniesa were big worries at fullback. We got in at six the following morning, some of us with little to no sleep. I gave them the day off as standard on these long bus journeys back and spent the day looking at the plethora of goals from the games.

Barcelona wasted many chances but Eldense were very poor – dead certs for last place if that game was anything to go by. Luckily for us three other teams conceded three or more but encouragement was taken from one of the teams scoring that many, Castellón, were our next opponents. They look quick but very, very lucky. Atlético Baleares gifted them a comical own goal and conceded a minute later – all inside the first seven minutes of the second half when the first finished 1-1. Badalona look the same, a drab 0-0 at Ebro with Luis Carlos not doing a very good job up front on his own. Typical.

Manzano called knowing full well that was I asleep. It was at half eight in the morning. Diego get up. You need to come back to Palamós. Bleary eyed, and a little big angry, I asked what couldn’t wait for the evening’s deadline day madness. Gutiérrez called. He’s in town. You’ve got an hour to meet him.

I didn’t want to die on the way down, obviously, so I took my time and didn’t speed. I knew the hour was a bluff – we were the only club aware of him let alone in the running. He saw me before I’d seen him. He chose his moment, his words prepared. Did somebody order a bloodhound?

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192.

As far as I was concerned, we were closed for business. We had got our man. The Olot Bloodhound is a registered Llagostera player and we can now completely switch things up. Álex Gracia preferred his football on the left wing, Gascón in the hole, and Vaquero in the middle of the park. Gutiérrez would have great influence over this dressing room and I was keen to keep the eleven personalities as one.

Serrano would miss out the next game while he tried to bed in, Álex Gracia reprising that right-wing inside forward role. I wasn’t unhappy with the former Inter youth but rather I’d earmarked him for a shot at right-back instead. There were question marks at left-back, too, as well as in goal but for now consistency was key to building a team ethic. Besides, Muniesa kept Jero very quiet despite mistakes with the ball. The hometown hero was important. I probably should keep an eye on Agudo next time out as on review he lost half his headers and a third of his tackles – all the more alarming considering that he contested twice as many as anyone else for both. I couldn’t afford an easy target so early on.

New striker Álex Sánchez tore his knee ligaments on opening day. What was cruel for Castellón was a boon for us and no mistake. He’d scored two of their three and probably wouldn’t play this side of the winter break again. We would expect to cede a lot of possession and hope that his replacement didn’t have the kind of pace to expose Vaquero and Fiuza, who would probably be phased out soon.

I was approached by an agent near deadline day. I was already aware of the player and had Peso on it. What intrigued me was that he was a right back. Definitely one for the next window. For now all I had on the agenda was sleep. I would wake up after a few hours. Before I knew it they were all at it.

The Spanish Football Daily was on the phone. Chema Castillo wanted to congratulate me on bringing in Gutiérrez – the fans were very happy – but he wanted to know how much of an impact his signing would have on our season. I told him that last week was a dress rehearsal. The window will close and we can settle down with the squad, delighted that we’ve managed to capture a striker of his calibre.

Tuesday morning, then, and we are back to work. Training was wild, Gutiérrez straight into the game and earning his start. For every good performance, a ragged, inconsolable display matched it. Nearly every starter last week was poor, dejected even. They knew their places were up for grabs. Muniesa was heroic again, and six of the seven substitutes did enough to keep their place. N’Diaye was done by Mendez’s whinging to assistant Jiminéz that there wasn’t enough depth in midfield. He was right and would be the depth himself. Enríquez would not have to wait long for a shot at centre back, too.

We would still look to stick to our four pillars of football: deep, narrow, playing the ball out, and then waiting for our opportunity. Gutiérrez’s pace allowed us to hit on the counter but the instruction did give our lack of pace around him the chance to keep hold of the ball and make the right passes. Back in defence, Vaquero is to step out and engage the opposition. At times he didn’t know when to hold or not so we had get him to be a little more aggressive so he didn’t have to think too much. He was a midfielder by trade and we did not want him to lose that mettle while he was essentially a stop-gap.

Barcelona had spent big this summer ahead of a Champions League group containing Liverpool and Inter. € 40 million was spent bringing in Lucas Torreira and he was now the third biggest earner after Messi and Suárez. Clearly the biggest factor in coming third last season was the marginal draws and losses so the Uruguayan’s job was simply to keep the opposition at bay if the strikers had an off day.

A vital win over champions Atlético in the two-legged Supercopa buoyed my interest and, checking the fixture schedule, I realised that I could make all of the home group games. I would have to miss El Clásico, as I did the curtain-raiser, due to Llagostera commitments but I was confident about this.

Cabral’s analysis was in. Castellón were prone to tiring late on in games but this was due to the pace of their start. We would need Muniesa on his best behaviour as most attacks come down our left. I breathed a sigh of relief that Agudo wouldn’t be targeted, unless their had done their homework of course. I was really pleased with Sergio Alonso and Nacho in the middle of the park last week, and I felt that something special was about to happen with Diego and Gutíerrez. Nacho would be asked to play yet another role, coming out wide to bridge the gap to the flank so that Álex Gracia came inside.

Eventually we would expect our central defenders to be Enríquez plus one, the same for Mendez in midfield. In the Friday game Hércules piled further misery on Atlético Baleares with an island win for top spot. Before our first home game in the league, Tarragó made an appearance. She was delighted to tell me that season ticket sales had soared by around 30%. We now had 2 000 loyal fans to watch us play, whatever happens. Keen to stress that the first game was an exercise, I made my excuses to get down into the dressing room to prepare the players for our morning session - defending corners.

Alzira got a beating up at Valencia, their Diego scoring again in a 1-3 loss. Eldense only conceded the one this time but it was enough for Hospitalet to take the win to nil. Badalona were the late kick-off and we would get to find out their score when we all got home. In terms of fitness, Nacho was still a little short while the rest of the eleven were fine. Daniel Miguel and Mendez were the only two men I wanted to make an appearance from the bench this time around – we had to keep Nou Municipal a special place and restrict access. Next time out I wanted the other young centre back Moreno to get some minutes, Vallejo too.

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  • 1 month later...

 193.

I wasn’t afraid of Castellón but that defeat left me afraid of what we might achieve. Gutiérrez was a big step forward, of course, and it was perhaps too early to tell if this team would collapse on me. In the dressing room for a second time today, the troops were gathered around. Make sure someone is always on Montero, he will look to get crosses in at every opportunity. Think Madrazo from the right last week. This week its Muniesa’s turn, men, and it is your job to make sure you don’t isolate them.

Alzira had taken a 3-1 beating in Valencia but that man Diego had scored again to halve their deficit. He really was looking to be a great signing for them. Eldense conceded just the one this week, home to Hospitalet, but the away side took all three points with the narrowest win to nil. Elsewhere today Badalona host Lleida Esportiu in the late game while Alcoyano had the chance to keep pace with the top side Hércules while Barcelona had two weeks before they could play again thanks to scheduling.

Tactically, we worked from a mirror-image of the last game. Muniesa would tuck in tight at left back and Gascón would stay wide. On the other flank, Álex Gracia would storm the centre backs from the right flank. His nous was crucial in getting the bloodhound off to a good start. To dam the river down that flank, Nacho would be asked to cover the half space as Agudo was no attack-minded right back.

Even though we were at home I wanted to sit just that little bit deeper, or play the professional part, and ride out the game until it settled. The fans would be worried about a second half collapse so it’s important that we don’t ship another two goals in the first half of this one. Two goals in the second last time out flattered us and a week later we were still seething at going from a potential 2-2 to 1-4.

Nico Lopéz had a recent history of regressing or relegating teams the longer he stayed. For all intents and purposes he was a Tercera manager punching above his weight. But he still had a good start for his teams, parachuting into a dismal Real Sociedad B side for the second half of a season aside, and I didn’t know what to expect. He was out of the game for a year until the summer. I wondered what’s been learned and from who. 1 894 tickets were sold - all of us at Nou Municipal would find that out.

With the players torn into last week after failing to impress when asked, improvement must show its face today. I expected a much better performance tonight and kept up the tone of my last team talk.

Palamós was a calm 21 degrees and maybe the extra heat on last week would help the players relax.

This was a big moment for me - my full home debut. Alzira was an outlier in every sense. Pre-season had gone well, we’d got our man in Gutiérrez, and this was probably my last shot at a Catalan career. Next week we have five games in two weeks and the squad will need to be heavily rotated. It was so important that these two fixtures weren’t write-offs. Just how good are these players right now? We have to believe they’ll improve.

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194.

From the off, an excited evening crowd saw us clear high balls in to our centre backs. Castellón were direct. Cassano was being fed the ball in the double pivot and Nacho had to be alert to shut it down.

Brilliant play from Álex Gracia built intricate, tight passes around their box and Diego squeezed in a shot. Their ‘keeper Zagala was down low to his left and had to hold the ball to slow the game down. It was an encouraging start and we held possession well. We were doing everything right at the back and forcing them to play in front of us. Castellón were dangerous from set pieces but we had superb movement going forward. If only we could unleash the bloodhound. Instructed to peel off his man or sit on the shoulders, we got instant results. Álex Gracia took a wonderful through-ball from Diego on his weaker foot and crossed the ball in front of the goalkeeper. Gutiérrez was there to force an own goal from his marker and we were ahead on half an hour. It was the first time we had got in behind.

Castellón responded to the raucous crowd by playing us at our own game. But we had to sit pretty after scoring. With five minutes to go we tightened up some more, trying to stick to shorter passes.

It played right into their hands so we changed up a gear, looking for the counter. It pushed back the advances of the away side and we got to half time unscathed. I was happy with what I saw and even asked Jiménez to keep quiet. A change in formation before the break would see Diego isolated so we made sure Gutiérrez was back to his running ways and that we weren’t looking for that perfect pass.

It felt like Gascón had space behind his full-back if he wanted it so he was given licence to charge to that by-line and get a cross in. Quite what their manager was playing at moving a man from attack to defensive midfield was beyond me at this point but we had to react. A cheap clearance by Muniesa led to a really good chance for Montero to whip in a ball for Willy to head straight at Manzanares. It was then that we eased off the counter, weary of the dual full back crosses raining in. We had to pin them back. Vaquero had been much better today but was still costing us possession at the back so I took him off on the hour, Moreno in his place as a more solid defensive line. Within minutes the ball was in the net for 1-1. Another own goal, this time Gutiérrez the unfortunate soul. A wide free-kick was cleared and the ball fell to Solis outside the box. He hammered it into the crowd hoping for his deflection and he got it, Manzanares stranded. Things only got worse. A throw-in wasn’t cleared and Solis was able to smash a shot from a cut-back only to see Willy steer it past the ‘keeper from all of a metre. Disaster. Had we really collapsed again? Mendez was on for Nacho and asked to play his role.

We had to come out and play as we were creating nothing. Incredibly we went down 1-3 again from a Solis shot steered in by Willy. We had lost possession from a corner and they went straight down the other end and scored. A chastening debut for Moreno. They were all over us now. It wasn’t for a want of trying but the chances had dried up. Twice Castellón struck the post in the final ten minutes.

We had been unlucky and I gave them some credit. Castellón had done a number on us. Our first half was exemplary and perhaps we need to learn to bolt that back door in the second half, perhaps even more defensive as games go on. We were good enough to get our goal again today. It gives us hope.

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195.

The next day I sat down to breakfast with Manzano and Peso. The director of football was forthright in his views, and particularly the perception of the fans. We have a busy two weeks in the limelight, he said, and the fans will want goals. Peso felt that we should finish games how we’ve started them.

So we attack. But how? The team will focus all fortnight on defending so that we don’t lose sight of the ability to shut up shop. We had deliberately built up the team cohesion during the second half of pre-season and now was time to put in some real work on the training ground. We had to get better.

We pored over Cabral’s analysis from the first two games. Gascón had gone from the sublime to the ridiculous and would surely make way for Álex Gracia to move over to his preferred flank. A recall for Serrano was on the cards and we could do with his pace down the right flank. How to knit it all into a chance-creating machine was a headache. Nacho may have to wait for another chance as we looked to balance the middle of the park. Playing narrow and working our opportunities was out, four pillars reduced to two. Gascón and Nacho were good, experienced, and versatile players to have in reserve but maybe there was a way of getting the former Zaragoza man firing like he had in the first game. If Sergio Alonso and Álex Gracia could coax their start to the season out of their ex-teammate we could have quite the passing triangle. Diego could always drop deeper, or Vaquero could move further up the pitch – central midfield really was quite a conundrum. A meritocracy would select the side again.

Away to Hércules was a big ask and we’d seen enough of the young lads who’d made an appearance from the bench. Roche and Xabier would cover the defensive column between them still. Enríquez is not far off being fit enough to stake his first team place so he joins the bench, as do utility forwards Dani and José Javier. Gascón and Nacho drop down to give Mendez, a solid performer in the 1-4 loss last week, to go alongside the experienced Sergio Alonso who would be given the freedom to attack.

We would expect a flat 4-4-2 from the play-off side so we needed verticality. Álex Gracia would run at his man on the left and Serrano would be expected to whip in crosses from deep. With Gutiérrez fond of one-twos and Diego naturally wanting to get into the box, Peso and Manzano would take it in turns to show them the false-nine second-striker partnership in the days leading up to the game.

Happy that we had a plan, we reviewed the tapes that afternoon. Badalona were first up against the men from Lleida and were lucky to score from a corner against the run of play. Toscano was involved in both goals, feeding Luis Carlos with a delightful threaded pass for the second to secure the victory.

Ebro shipped five up at Alcoyano despite taking the lead, although Salomón scored twice in the first half which would give us food for thought for when we play the supposed whipping boys in the next couple of weeks. Mallorca were fortunate to put two past Europa at home and we would expect the ante to be upped against our fellow promoted team after the Ebro game. Diego scored again for his Alzira side, although worryingly they shipped three again this time to Mestalla. Should we have lost to a side like that so heavily on opening day? We would get a good idea when Alzira and Castellón would face off in one of the early kick-offs. With six teams pointless so far we perhaps shouldn’t be worrying so much. Castellón ran out 2-0 winners but the eye was caught by Barcelona B beating my old club Badalona 4-3 with a 94th minute winner after being 0-2 and 2-3 down. Incredible.

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196.

A trip to Alicante, then, in that the enormous 29 500 capacity José Rico Pérez. I’ve always made it a point to bring young players here and today is no exception. Roche and Xabier would be involved at some point – they had earned it – but all eyes were on Mendez and Gutiérrez. We weren’t expected to win but we could really have a go. Espanyol B at home in midweek was in the back of our minds.

Hércules made three or four changes themselves, perhaps more experienced in managing a squad in a promotion race, perhaps already tired from their midweek cup win over Hospitalet. Manel had got a goal in each game this season. Fiuza had a job on his hands of keeping him quiet. We started well, Diego dropping deep to link with Sergio Alonso and Mendez to form a neat triangle around the two central midfielders for Hércules. But on two minutes a Jandrín free-kick ballooned off the crossbar. It stayed in the air for an eternity. Agudo headed clear but only as far as one defender who popped the ball back to Fernández and it was 0-1 on three minutes. We hit the reset button and tried to play on.

We tried to play more direct as the positioning was there but the speed of pass wasn’t. Gutiérrez put his shot way wide under no pressure at all after being played in by that wonderful triangle which was dominating the midfield two of the home side. We just couldn’t clear our lines, it was soon dropped.

All of a sudden our discipline was gone. Jandrín was raining in shot from distance for fun and our full backs kept punting the ball long. We had conceded ten shots inside the opening twenty minutes. We were a toy for Hércules. Out of nowhere Mendez spotted the run of Gutiérrez and the striker was on it. He held it up on the left side of the box, did his man, and squared it for the return ball. Deflected! The ball wasn’t out of play yet. Fiuza had to be at his very best to stop the counter. We’re closing in.

We had to exploit the middle. The four pillars were back. Half time and I had to think. How do we do it? Hércules were there for the taking if we could keep them out now. We would attack them. We’d allow ourselves creative freedom but it is up to you, the players, to give each other supporting runs.

We were living dangerously. Hércules were treating this as a training game – their heads weren’t in it – but sooner or later one of these half chances is going to be taken. We had only been breached one time with a ball over the top today, the rest had been plucky pot shots from outside the box. We got about them, pushing up and releasing the ball early. Diego was having a tremendous game out here.

It was 0-2 on ten minutes.  A goal kick was taken down by one centre forward and hammered in first time by another. That’s two ugly, undeserved ones we’ve conceded today at the start of both halves.

Keen to get Roche and Xavier on in the middle, pass-magnets Diego and Sergio Alonso were hooked. Mendez would go in the hole, Álex Gracia asked to come inside, and Gutiérrez to come deeper still.

Roche would break things up as the fresh legs in the middle of the park and Xabier would control it.

Carillo made it three with fifteen minutes to go, Manel returning the favour from earlier with a neat through-pass from another long ball that our defence just could not head away. The home side had turned the volume up now and were out to get the goals their shot count deserved. Mendez, now in an advanced role, fed a lovely ball around the corner for Gutiérrez but the ‘keeper was equal to that.

Ten minutes from time it was four, our attack broke down and that front two combined again with a pace I’ve not seen all game. Manel curled a ten-metre shot into the far corner along the ground. 0-4.

What followed in the dressing room wasn’t pretty. I completely misread the room. I began to say we were the underdogs and we gave it our best shot but this entire group thought they’d played well! It was staggering. Jiménez set about them praising their individual performances and even managed to kow-tow a few of them: Manzanares in goal, Mendez, Sergio Alonso, Roche, and Xavier expected us to tear into them. How could I? We were not in the same league physically or ability-wise. It is very clear that we are nowhere near good enough for this league right now. Changes had to made soon.

Do we go three at the back this early? We would need 3-1-4-2 to cover Ebro’s man in the hole and a flat 3-5-2 to deal with Espanyol and Ebro either side of that. All three were winnable games. It felt as if we had no width in attack or defence. Agudo and Muniesa were staples in the full back area thanks to a lack of competition. Perhaps Serrano and the young Lozano were heirs apparent to last season’s hangovers in Agudo and Manzanares in time but right now we needed consistency. Álex Gracia was the other first teamer left over from the last regime but he showed glimpses of quality. It was about finding his position. Then it hit me. The Zaragoza boys could all play together – so why not together in a narrow 4-2-3-1? Gutiérrez would have three times the attacking midfielders feeding him and we had a solid base if we moved Vaquero forward and planted Mendez beside him. Captain and future.

Enríquez would partner Fiuza at the back, and along with Mendez it was only a matter of time before I got both young foreigners in the side. Vaquero and Mendez had both been schooled at Valencia so it gave me hope. Gascón and Álex Gracia had pace so would have to flank the attacking strata which left a lot of Sergio Alonso’s shoulders with Diego and Nacho waiting in the wings. The bench looked exciting with three professionals on it when you included Serrano – a more attacking prospect than Agudo could be – and in the vein of consistency we would not stray from tactical outlook we were trying to instil in these guys. The change would also be a boon for our younger players who needed to play in their natural positions.

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197.

Tuesday training and there was no time to cover defensive drills. We were straight into preparation for our 4-1-3-2 Narrow and we would have but a week to spring this surprise before the change was picked up by other managers. Corominas tried to come to me about scouting opportunities but now was not the time. A number of our players had ceased ties with their agents so surely others must be doing the same. It was the season for it; the transfer deadline had just passed. Our width, tempo, or mentality were stumbling blocks with the old formation but now there was no excuse. This was easy.

The dressing room was low so we had to make things easier for them. While the fan feedback from a source that got back to Tarragó was pleasing – they had gone from distraught to concerned in a poll – the key points were their disappointment at the amount of chances created. It was if the other end of the pitch only mattered if we lost. Good. They saw what we were trying to do at least and the new formation looked to build on that. I didn’t want to mess with the shape too much so only two pillars of the old regime remained: playing out from the back and working the ball into the box. We would be left open to wing attacks so it was important that Agudo and Muniesa stayed back and chose the pass wisely once in possession. With three men operating in the attacking midfield strata you can all afford to be choosy. Álex Gracia performed much better on the right than he did up front or on the left so Gascón didn’t have much of a position shift coming inside from the left flank. Sergio Alonso is the key here – playing much further forward than previously utilised. Vaquero, seasoned anywhere on that pitch, would occupy his space with Mendez alongside him. Enríquez would take the right side of central defence as was his preference. What to do with the five midfielders ahead of him was the real question. Agudo was a real sour presence among the team this week and Serrano was waiting.

Dani and José Javier made the bench once more, as did N’Diaye. Lozano was there to keep ‘keeper Manzanares on his toes and they were joined by Serrano. Nacho and Diego could cover the double pivot. The matches against Ebro and Europa would see some real involvement for the youth team.

We could counter, in a structured way, on the advice of Otiz the tactical coach. Fiuza’s influence was now growing and was considered a rock among the squad. Aguirretxu had landed a plumb job at our opponents Espanyol B in the summer despite an unremarkable managerial career among the lower reaches of the game. Cabral noted his 3-5-2 was a staple of former teams but that couldn’t overrun us, could it? We expected him to persevere with 4-1-3-2 and this would see us flood that defensive midfielder with two attacking midfielders either side of Sergio Alonso. Vaquero and Mendez would operate a one-sit one-run policy with the same role although this could change with Serrano playing.

To take my mind off things I kept my appointment at the Camp Nou. Inter were in town and fresh off the Supercopa win Barça were three wins from three in the league. Valverde’s 4-1-4-1 was a killer of a formation, Torreira doing his job admirably. That old dog Messi cut inside from the left for Suárez to finish with aplomb. Rakitic then released Suárez with a cheeky lob over the high line for 2-0 inside 20 minutes. The plan was clearly give it to the Uruguan and hope for the best and the best is what it was. A 20 minute hat-trick before 35 minutes and the tie was dead, a goalkeeping error saw the ball squirm through Handanovic and into the net. Inter were listless. Messi had a penalty saved to earn the ‘keeper some credit back and they saw out the half at 0-3. With four players on a yellow card, it was always going to be a loose second half. Inter scored a decent goal, working the ball around the box for Icardi to sweep home from just inside the area after two minutes, Torreira guiltiest. He stood when he should have committed but that yellow card was a noose around his neck. It was the early lifeline that Inter needed and they scored another on ten minutes, Sallai slamming home from a real good Gagliardini header into the box. Suárez nearly made it 4-2 put Handanovic as strong as his near post. Dembélé and Busquets were on for Torreira and Coulibaly on the hour, Candreva for Barbosa for the away side. The world record Frenchman made space for Messi, who made space for Zivkovic on the left and he should have scored. This was an enthralling Champions League game! Messi was hooked for Denis Suárez in an attempt to turn the team into a counter-attacking one with fifteen to go. With ten to go it looked like Barça would hold out. A late surge from Jordi Alba left Zivkovic with no choice but to square it to Rakitic but he blazed over. Still no more substitutions from Inter. A late double change saw them disjointed and Dembélé should have set up a goal but his pass was terrible.

Changes at the back had done nothing for Inter but keep the scores level. If they had shown a bit of endeavour they could have nicked the draw. The prowess of Suárez was too hot to handle and I felt that Valverde could yet win the fans over with results alone. As I made the trip north up the coast I felt imbued with the Catalan spirit and I could not wait to see how we would entertain Espanyol B at Palamós. I wasn’t in trouble yet but with three eminently winnable games on the horizon I hoped we would be ready for Lleida at the end of it. Badalona had shown that if you play the percentages then you will win. It was these large provincial teams that would define our season and sooner or later we had to compete on their level. With the amount of new players in at Llagostera it would take time to adapt and five games in two weeks was the perfect antidote. It was hard to keep my excitement out of any critical thinking. I’d tweaked the formation to suit our strengths. Now we had to earn points.

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198.

It was a hot, breezy night at Palamós. I still had the dressing room and they were ready to listen. We told them that they’ve got to put in an improved performance here as we need to end this run soon.

Espanyol B were playing the part of the bad guys in a full charcoal coloured kit. Possession was just a number as we martialled them down our flanks. Manzanares spilled the first shot out for a corner. It was definitely time for Lozano to start the next two games against recently promoted teams. I hadn’t blamed my ‘keeper for anything yet but he was beginning to look shaky. Enríquez cleared the corner.

Espanyol were able to set their defence on the halfway line and as a result we were very deep. A few times we overcommitted to closing down their wingers, too. The shape would have to change soon.

A counter-attacking approach was needed so we instructed the forward line to sit tight on Oriol who was at the base of Espanyol’s midfield and getting twice as much ball as his teammates. Gascón took a slight knock – our first of the season – but was able to play on. We stemmed the penetration from the away side but we were still waiting on our first attack. Muniesa was asked to mark his man. The right winger Valldosera was getting crosses in aplenty. We would cease trying to play it out from the back and work an opening on fifteen minutes. Before we could shout these changes Checa, who had been quiet all game, struck a thunderous shot from outside the box and snuck it in at the near post.

Minutes later Gascón steamed down the left flank pulling his teammates with him. He skipped two challenges and pumped the ball into the box. Alas, it was straight into the goalkeeper’s path but we were encouraged on the bench. The defence switched off and allowed a counter to pop a shot off.

After good, direct play we had our first shot. Gutíerrez latched onto a high ball and made the ‘keeper work. If we could play even deeper and even more narrow we had a chance through the middle. One minute later we were level, Agudo playing a fierce diagonal ball from inside his own half. The ball got knocked on by the left back towards goal and Gutiérrez, smelling blood, beat his man to it and struck high into the near post. He celebrated wildly, running all the way to the bench to leap into my arms!

As is usual for this side, our corner nearly led to their goal. We just cannot win headers in the box so maybe we have to play it short next time. Jordan was clean through on goal and shanked his chance.

We were having chances now. Agudo was told to get touch-tight to Jordan and we would see out the last ten minutes of the half playing our normal game. Agudo hooked away a pass for Jandro and that man in the middle Sergio Alonso looked up, dinked a pass over the top and before he could touch it the bloodhound was fouled. Penalty! After some dispute Gutiérrez took the ball. He looked calm and collected. Wide! He put the ball wide! Our two best penalty takers have each missed one this season and they have both been huge. I was passionately pleased with how things were going. We’re in this.

Gascón’s passing was letting us down so we dropped him a little deeper and asked Vaquero to push forward. We’d start with short passing to unsettle them and get Gutiérrez to hang on the shoulder of the last defender. Sergio Alonso also had to get on the ball more often. The plan was to sweep play from left to right and get Álex Gracia and the bloodhound to double up on the yellow-carded player.

It was clear we needed to play out from the back. The ball kept coming back to us. A disgusting play by Espanyol saw four men queuing up to knock it in out Manzanares was equal to it. We were all at sea. We were perhaps too deep now and the game was end to end. The ball over the top did for us and the substitute for Valldosera scored with his first touch. I was furious. The two either side of our advanced playmaker were hooked, Nacho and Diego on. Vaquero build a great for Gutiérrez but he shot wide under pressure. There was a goal here for us. With ten minutes to go Serrano was on and told to bomb down that right flank. The team knew what to do – feed the pacey wingback and score.

We threw everything at them. In injury time Serrano beat his man and ran to the by-line. Bodies now piling into the box. His cross was too close to the ‘keeper and the chance was gone. He rolled it out to his defender but we were wise to it, closing down his options. A nervy back pass was seized upon by Nacho, slide tackling the ball between them and beyond. He got up and ran as fast as he could to stop the ball going out of play, took a touch, and side-footed in. We were level! The game was now a frenetic pace. We went for them. Diakaby’s pace threatened to end the tie but we cleared and sent a pack marauding toward goal in the fifth minute of injury time. Gutiérrez held it up, waited for Diego to rush on played him in. But Adrián was there first! Booting the ball away. Superb awareness from a goalkeeper who had previously shown the opposite. We had one more throw-in but the whistle was blown. We had done it! It felt fantastic! That missed penalty could have won us the game but there was always time for that against Ebro and Europa. I got into the dressing room last, commiserating my opposite number. The players were nervous. The mentality of this team is all over the place. We saw Vaquero sulking and I would have to take him aside soon. This was not good. I was pleased with what I saw out there. There were some positives for sure. We could be an attacking team yet boys!

We needed Serrano in there. He changed the game. Without any width we looked cumbersome and predictable. Vaquero would need to cover him defensively so I told him to sit deep on the right side next time and use the new attacking outlet.

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199.

To compliment the right flank Muniesa needs to own that wing too. It might just close the gap to the winger but it might open us up too. Jiménez was becoming increasingly out of his depth tactically, to the point where he wasn’t useful on matchday. But it was his first job as a staff member and I really wanted him to learn. Manzano, that tower of Cornellà’s past, urged me to speak with Corominas to hear his views on recruitment. There were a number of players I knew of from my past but most of the players were not interested in us. As much as I wanted to give our youth a chance we needed to get a marquee signing in. The usual non-league players without a club were flogging their wares but none of them seriously interested me at this stage. Back to the tactics board, then. Álex Gracia has to come over to the left – his fifth position in five games – as he wanders into channels. There were goals in him if we could tease it out of him. He would play a shadow striker role and offer a second target for Serrano’s crosses, should they miss Gutiérrez. His decisions one-on-one meant he would score only a fraction of his chances. We’d pull him a little deeper and utilise his ability on the ball.

Diego would sit on the right of the three attacking midfielders. He’s be our advanced playmaker, it was hoped he’d interact with Vaquero behind him and Serrano to his right. He loved getting into the box and having shots too. I just needed to create the space for him. With Sergio Alonso now looking like being in competition with Vaquero for the deep-lying role, I couldn’t find a space for him up top.

The player I had seen the least of over pre-season was N’Diaye. So hard to shoe-horn in, I gave him the number ten role. It was a big leap from the Valladolid under-19s but he needs these two games. He was both-footed and built like a beanpole. If he was allowed a free pass he would have to take it. A trequartista role beckoned then. He was unpredictable but his first touch could not be questioned.

I reviewed the tapes with Manzano alone. Europa were a shambles and shipped four away to our old island rivals Atlético Baleares in the first half but tightened up to only concede a free-kick after that. The pressure is on us to make them suffer, commented my director of football. An out-of-sorts Barça fell 1-2 away to Alcoyano and Ebro were thumped 1-4 at Villarreal but that man Salomón scored too.

Lleida showed their class to draw 2-2 at Mallorca. We needed to be ready for them and a couple of wins should do the trick! Badalona lost to late penalty at home to Hospitalet for 0-1 and thankfully they were not out of sight from us. Only Ebro and Europa were below us in the table now and if we got six points we’d have a claim to get out of the bottom third. Saguntino and Eldense still hadn’t got a goal yet and somehow they had picked up a point each. There was already a two-point gap opened up between the relegation play-off spots and the rest. We simply had to start winning now. I’ve lost more games than won thanks to dreadful starts. It ends now.

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200.

We had one day of defensive training after the day off. Daniel Miguel was itching for game time and so made the bench. There were recalls for Moreno and Rivas in defence, as well as Xabier in midfield and young Merino would be backup goalkeeper. Nacho and Sergio Alonso were there as my comfort.

Ebro would be without four first-team players on this wet afternoon, two from suspension. They had to be disjointed and we would look to take advantage of their engine room sitting this one out. Title favourites Mallorca stormed to the summit with a 1-0 win over Hospitalet in the Saturday kick-off. If any manager was in trouble it would be after this fifth round of fixtures. By seven, September would be done and the axe would begin to hang over some heads. Europa’s ten men lost narrowly away to Alzira, 0-1, and I felt we will perhaps catch them at the wrong time. Ebro had three defeats in a row.

Gascón passed a late fitness test and took the young loan goalkeeper’s space on the bench. His time would come but he was only sixteen and he mostly needed the experience of training with the team.

I expected a win. Jiménez managed to relax N’Diaye as we headed out of the dressing room. It was a miserable evening – the rain hadn’t stopped all afternoon. If we were playing on the deck we had to be sharp. Samu Bugallo picked up an overhit freekick from Gutiérrez and surged the entire right side.

Greedily going for goal, the ball floated high and wide of the far post. A welcome relief for Lozano in goal. Salomón went down clutching his foot a minute later. He was done. They’re dropping like flies!

His replacement Sidibé got clattered ten minutes later, his face a picture of frustration while holding his knee. We were enjoying the rough stuff a little too much – a rare booking for Vaquero followed.

After controlling the game for ten minutes we set about Ebro. Our passing was abysmal at times and at others wonderful, Serrano a real outlet. We were close, though, and with ten minutes to go I gave the order to pick up the pace. It wasn’t the right decision and we nearly lost the tie, Lozano making a great wrong-handed save to claw it away. We had to control the second half and get up in their face.

We were knocking on the door but Ebro were so, so patient. It paid off ten minutes into the second half when Samu Bugallo, now on the opposite flank, snuck inside Serrano to lash home past Lozano.

But it was disallowed! It was just the warning we needed. We then had corner after corner. Whipped in at pace from Álex Gracia, Ebro went to sleep and left Enríquez unmarked. Goal! It was no less than we deserved. Muniesa picked the wingers pocket from kick-off and sent a gorgeous ball over the top for Gutíerrez. 2-0! The players protested at the foul from Muniesa and Samu Bugallo was cautioned.

Vaquero was flagging so sent of Sergio Alonso in his place, tweaking N’Diaye’s role again slightly. We dropped off and told them to play like it was 0-0. With twenty minutes to go I wrapped Gutiérrez in cotton wool and threw on Daniel Miguel with the same instruction: get the ball and run with it, son!

With ten minutes to go, young Xabier was on for Mendez and asked to recreate his roaming role that he did so well in pre-season. Suffocate them out there, lads! As injury time approached we bellowed encouragement from the side line. Stick the knife in! Go for a third! The chance came in injury time, Daniel Miguel enjoying one of his galloping runs with the ball from the centre circle but it fell apart.

That was a very good performance but don’t let it get to your heads – there’s another game around the corner. It focussed the team, as we so easily could have lost this one.

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201.

The clean sheet for Lozano was massive. He may not have been tested much, and I doubt he will be in the next match either, but it breeds confidence. The game away at Europa was in two days and I called Manzano and Peso together to work out what we needed. Peso felt that the time was right to blood in some youth as we would need a fresh squad for the weekend trip to Lleida. The trip down to Barcelona would be a special one and I urged all of the staff to stay overnight and enjoy the day off with me afterwards. With any luck we will reflect on a good few games with the new formation.

Moreno and Rivas were in at wingback, the former more accustomed to the higher role that Serrano had done so well. N’Diaye would start again but the burden of the trequartista role proved too much so he would just be told to play a normal attacking midfielder game. Manzanares and Agudo sit out.

Paula, the press officer, passed a Eurosport article to me. I knew what was coming. A hundred games in football tomorrow. I wasn’t particularly proud only having won a third of them but I was a rookie. Two half seasons and one full in three years meant that figure should be much higher now. I was in the last chance saloon of Catalunya and just had to make this club work. The club I wanted so badly.

Serrano suffered a gashed leg in training and would probably miss the Lleida game. I was thankful to have Agudo in reserve. On the day, the players were in fair spirits that only another win could better.

We started well, looking good in our Barça-esque home kit as the away would have clashed with the all-white affair of Europa. Comfortably the better footballing side, we set about controlling the final third. N’Diaye curled a ball into the corner for Moreno, he took a touch, crossed it, and Gutiérrez did the rest. 1-0 to Llagostera! Moreno’s assist was superb and N’Diaye, no longer a passenger, was out there enjoying himself. Lozano was alert to a long ball over the top and parried lone-striker Jamelli’s poor shot to safety. We had to step off and allow them to come out – we couldn’t just sit high at all.

Rivas was looking every bit as good as Moreno on the other flank but we still struggled to get bodies in the box. It didn’t matter. Vaquero found Diego and he rifled it in from the penalty spot. At times our formation resembled a 4-4-2 when backed up against a defence and the extra bodies caused the opposition problems. If we could wait for the overlap and work it back inside we could score more.

We mustn’t get complacent, I said to them. Things turn around. Go out there and attack them from the off. I wasn’t happy with Álex Gracia’s wayward shooting and told Daniel Miguel to warm up. He’d get on in that second striker role with a bit of pace. I told him to tell his teammates to hit on a break.

Both teams were in full swing now. We rode it out. Xabier was for the tiring Mendez and again took up any position he pleased. It was nearly 3-0 with a magnificent team move but N’Diaye’s header of Daniel Miguel’s surging run and cross was held well. Gascón was sent on for Diego and, although it’s an unfamiliar role, he should be able to pick off a few passes with his fresh legs. Gutiérrez, facing out from the goal, played in Daniel Miguel with a cheeky pass and the ‘keeper couldn’t get a strong to it.

We slowed things down and even went route one for the final minutes, just to test those tired folk at the back. It was a good win and we did well. The two games were a gift, of course, but we’re now up to 12th with a two point cushion.

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202.

I had hired a conference room for the entire staff. We would watch the B3 highlights together, and I especially with relish as Prat had defeated Badalona 6-1. Dopi opened his account with an early pen and struck a low shot from outside the box ten minutes later. Badalona were shaken and conceded again instantly. My old team were crumbling under the pressure yet again. The manager had no idea what he was doing with my eleven. Dopi had his hat-trick before the half was out and added another two minutes later. Toscano laid on a looping ball for Pardavilla at the start of the second half and he helped it on over the onrushing goalkeeper to salvage a bit of pride but Dopi had a fifth a minute on from kick-off. The same old defensive frailty was there for all to see. The other matches were ok but a great cheer resounded when Llagostera were on the screen. The first two goals looked fantastic on television. I reminded the staff that I intended to go to Lleida and defend with our lives. Not because we needed to but because we had to see if we could. We looked good going forward now so that did not need extra work right now. We’ve trained for four weeks in the defensive arts – now it’s for real.

It meant recalls for Agudo and Muniesa in the full back positions as they had trained well. Lozano is to keep the number one jersey until Manzanares’ application improves. The same could be said for Fiuza but he was keeping his head above water for now. I wanted to reward Daniel Miguel with Álex Gracia’s space in the team. Nacho finally got the delayed start for his 95th minute equaliser. Peso was keen to point out that N’Diaye had a taste of first team football but should now be eased in and out.

Enríquez and Fiuza now had a solid partnership at the break and I didn’t want to break up a triangle with Lozano either. The latter two were in a secondary social group and I wanted them to break into the core. Two clean sheets on the bounce, after all. Vallejo had sat out four games so was brought in for consideration. With Gascón, Sergio Alonso, and Álex Gracia we had a hell of triple sub option on.

Cabral made an interesting point about the focus of Lleida attacks – almost always down their right.

Manzano suggested that I pick a fight with Manzanares to see what he’s made of. I mulled that over.

Back at base, my key goalkeeper was taken to one side. He did not agree, and felt he had worked so hard to be where he is. I stood my ground, warning him that I pick the team. He needs to work hard as this kid has come in and kept clean sheets, something he has not been able to do. Nor has the kid fumbled any crosses. He dug in, standing by what he said. It would be difficult to sort the old guard.

We got to Lleida early to survey the wonderful blue bowl stadium. It would be largely empty even as the biggest team in the province but we had a job to do today. Agudo and Muniesa were told to rein the runs down the flank, so much so that the left back could easily deal with those right wing attack.

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203.

Lleida kicked off in their lurid pink away strip, which was a surprise. It was a frantic first few minutes. The hosts popped off a couple of wayward shot but their pace and size were causing us problems. I nearly jumped out of my chair when we finally worked an opening but they countered to get into a footrace between Fiuza and the huge centre forward Dalmau. The vice-captain hauled him down in the box. Penalty. The game was barely four minutes old. Lozano could do nothing about the pace of Javi López’s strike straight down the middle. The ring-winger nearly took the net clean off. It was an abysmal start to the game. A professional use of the next fifteen minutes saw us cede all possession.

We had to come out of our shell if we wanted anything. We had a couple of shots in anger but their pressing game really disrupted our movement. I shouted on them to keep passing options shorter or exploit their man advantage in the middle. We got our rewards soon after, that fluid pack running on from the man with the ball and any one of them could have finished it off but Daniel Miguel was on hand at the far post to bury it. Two in two for the young man. The goal owed itself to Gutiérrez and his selfless running, holding up the ball for Diego to knock on again. We ended the half with Dalmau cracking a shot off the post after the booked Muniesa was left for dead by number ten Isamel down the left flank. We rallied, urged the double-pivot forward and again we were rewarded right on the stroke of half time! It was a fabulous strike from Diego, and only possible with Mendez and Vaquero lurking around the box from a throw-in. With his unfavoured left foot El Ten smashed it into the near post. We have incurred the wrath of a giant in doing it so late so I made my way to our dressing area before the whistle had gone. On the tactic board I moved the magnets around so all would see that I intended to attack. Back were wingbacks, centre mids were to fall back, and we’d hit their left flank.

Nacho had cut a peripheral figure so we would play to his strengths. He would be the hook that the midfield would ping one-two’s off. He was deep in thought when I told the team that despite great play we must do better if we want the points. I would give him the benefit of the doubt for minutes.

We nearly conceded a comical own goal inside two minutes. Fiuza’s clearance rebounding off a head and onto the post. Lozano was there to smother it at the second attempt. He wasn’t expecting that.

Nacho let the ball bounce off his heels and it cost us dear. Lleida were able to overload our box and at the second attempt scramble it home. Álex Gracia was on in the hole and asked to keep it tighter.

Captain Vaquero was done. He lost control under no pressure at all and Iñaki, the substitute striker, nearly had his second. Gascón was on too and we rolled the dice. He’d take up Diego’s playmaking role, Diego would come inside to the number ten role, and Álex Gracia the second striker. If Daniel Miguel hadn’t have been booked I would have kept him on. But this was a strong bench and we had 20 minutes to go. Gutiérrez was asked to lead the line and create space for Diego to work in. It took a few minutes to get into our groove. Lleida’s energy was nauseating. Their height across the team is intimidating. We took the lead! It was brilliant too! Sergio Alonso opened his body up and from the right of the box and played in Álex Gracia who slid in Gutíerrez to coolly finish. Now we would dig in.

We dig in we did! Superb game management from these men.

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204.

It was a long bus ride home but a great one. We stopped at Llagostera and piled into a large room at the club’s registered address. Isobel Tarragó was there to greet us, our chairwoman delighted at the result. Now was as good a time as any to have a team meeting. I wanted to take a moment to say we were so pleased with the recent upturn in form. Vaquero piped up by saying who knows what could be achieved if we kept this run going. It was good to see him play a role off the pitch. It was what we needed to hear as staff and morale was sky-high. A few of the coaches stuck around while we looked at the tapes. Alcoyano had struck three wondergoals in a 5-0 rout at Orihuela and the unlikely league leaders looked in fine fettle. There were wins for all of the big teams and the league settled in nicely.

We had four mid-table sides to play in October and, with Barcelona in there, we would work on our ball control during this period. It’s the little touches here and there that need to improve when tired.

My sports scientist suggested that the extra hard training after these five games in two weeks would make us susceptible to injury. I told him not to worry – it’s just ball work and ball work is fun. It was time to reassess some squad roles and personal training. I had been here three months and it seems as if wingers are out and attacking midfielders are in. Youth schedules wouldn’t be changed as their development would work best learning new positions. What we could do now is start linking players together with tutoring. I knew what to expect from most of them

Muniesa was the first name on the team sheet. His application was incredible. Gutiérrez wasn’t too far behind either. Agudo, Diego, and Mendez were also of a good standard and earned their places.

Our standout performer in matches was Enríquez. He had been a rock at the back. Lozano’s place in the team wasn’t under threat either; Manzanares had not changed his tune and even began whining that training was too hard. He was out the door in January. A man who I felt could do with his break was Fiuza. He and Sergio Alonso were dragging their heels a bit this week and would both be left out in the cold for it. Hospitalet was going to be a tight affair – it was for any team who played them – so I needed focussed individuals. Vaquero was becoming the captain I wanted him to be with an assist in each of the last two games but his legs were shot. If I stuck him alongside Enríquez I had pace and power between them. He could still have licence to play those raking passes but would sit deeper in.

I was determined to get the fans back onside regarding Álex Gracia. The moaning about the wider of our formations had dissipated but they were still on his back, despite three assists. He had to start in the next game but so did Daniel Miguel with his aggressive running from the left of the trio. So I had to tweak the ineffective central role for our talisman. I needed him to have a free role, moving into the channels as he preferred to do, getting further forward, dribbling more and shooting less. Could he even be our dummy runner? We needed to create double ups in the final third and he could be it.

With Mendez taking on the holding role in midfield because of his reliability, I needed someone next to him. Xabier was a standout performer in training so he got his chance, his first start of the season.

Gascón and Nacho covered the double pivot while Dani, Vallejo, and Jose Javier did the same for the trio in front. Moreno and Rivas were excellent cover for the backline but we went without a ‘keeper again. It was time to turn to statuses and I made sure the entire squad was present. Vaquero was the captain and should be considered at least a rotation option – the same goes for vice-captain Fiuza. If Diego had shown me anything it was that he deserved parity with the other two. Rivas too, Moreno already having that place guaranteed in his contract. Gascón, Nacho, and Sergio Alonso would need to work a little harder to earn their place in my good books. I was yet to see what Dani or José Javier could offer the team in league football. After lengthy discussion with Peso, it was agreed that we had to strip all training back. It was only seven games into the season and we were tailoring a formation to the players rather than the other way around. The wingbacks, advanced playmaker, and the two up front were all that needed to focus on their roles right now as they were not up to scratch. We’re still finding out about the rest of the players and it would be pertinent to keep it simple for a month.

We were quietly working on a couple of variations of 3-5-2, should the worst happen and Muniesa is struck down by injury for an extended period of time. We need to pick that up and run with it at the drop of a hat. Come January we can abandon that plan altogether but for now it was an ace up our sleeves. To celebrate three months in charge we arranged for his B team to face off against the ones in my team that had not had much game time. It was a strong squad on paper but our excitement is put on hold until we get the big one out of the way: Barcelona at home. It will be televised and both of us were sure that if we got a battering, the young’uns will be chomping at the bit to stake a claim for a run in the first team with a match against their friends and rivals in the reserves. A mix of those players had already put the schoolboys to the sword as the final part of pre-season and a number of them did impress. Some of these youths may even swap clubs off the back of it. The youths I asked after had been struggling to handle the infrequent B games. We’d make sure we had a game of huge importance on our hands by building it up for the next two weeks.

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205.

The monthly meet with the managing director Vilaró went smoothly. We were losing money as they predicted but there was enough in the bank for a few seasons yet, hence the € 200 000 staff budget.

Adán, my ever-reliable assistant, notified me that our game against Barcelona had been rearranged for midweek at the end of the month. They had too many players for international call-ups. Oh how the other half live! We would take the opportunity to get away. Jiménez put his language skills to the test and crossed the border to arrange a friendly in rugby-crazy Perpignan. It would cost us nearly an € 8 000 outlay to take the squad but the footballing culture shock would be worth it. They had good ties with Montpelier, apparently, so we should expect decent enough facilities to work on in France.

Back to the task in hand, then, and we were five points clear of the relegation zone. In Barcelona for the second time in two weeks the technical staff knew the drill – stick around for the night and talk football in the morning. Serrano wasn’t quite fit yet but he’d get a run-out in France when we tried our 3-5-2 away from prying eyes. The squad was fit and raring to go, Xabier the only exception here.

There was a lot of space on this pitch compared to the tiny one at Europa but the new synthetic did worry me. There was always talk of injuries with these things. We told them to go out and play well.

Eight minutes in Vaquero stuck a late leg out and caught his man. Penalty. The number nine made no mistake, sending Lozano the wrong way. It was an uphill battle from here as Hospitalet gave nothing away and created nothing either. We played nice, neat football and Álex Gracia made a nuisance of himself as a third striker at times. Canario had the bit between his teeth with that goal though and took a loose ball all the way to the by-line before crossing for 0-2. It’s dreadful defending all round.

The game was barely ten minutes old and we were all at sea. When we tried to play it short, the ball came back. When we tried to play it direct, the ball came back. Hospitalet were so organised I didn’t think we were going to have a shot on target today. They were everywhere we weren’t. I was angry.

It was 0-3 at on 35 minutes, Canario hooking in from a corner. Every kick from the goalkeeper met a head of a forward. It was unstoppable. The most agricultural team in the division had destroyed us.

A late free-kick from Mendez found Gutiérrez on the far post but he was scythed down. I didn’t even celebrate, knowing we’d probably miss the penalty anyway. Vaquero was told in no uncertain terms that he had to atone for his own error. If he missed, he was off at half time because he’d been awful.

Goal! Blasted into the top right, the ‘keeper nearly got it but it was too hot to handle. Now that’s the way to take a captain’s penalty. The second half began in a difficult nature. Hospitalet were so well drilled that even getting near the box was a big ask. It was two banks of four sat behind a front two and on the hour their big striker was off, injured. We pushed forward. Ález Gracia put Gutiérrez in on the goalkeeper and he shanked wide. I was furious. Still furious from half time, in fact. With neither striker having a shot on target in six attempts I decided to let the kids have a go. Dani was on the left and José Javier up front. Between them they had bags of pace but did they have the composure too?

Substitute striker Alfaro made it four. Easy as you like. A throw-in flicked on and there he was, just in worlds of space. Xabier made it respectable following a lost cause and tucking in a deflected pass. I threw on Vallejo for the experience as Diego had worn himself out. We won the second half, and for that I was merely disappointed at the final whistle. To go to Hospitalet, score two and lose… well, it doesn’t happen. They needed us to not turn up and we didn’t. Three 0-1 defeats against big sides did prepare them to unleash against us but it was no excuse. To take a positive, I enjoyed the young trio getting a run out. Playing in a losing side is good experience but we were exposed out in Barcelona.

On the short trip back I was thankful we didn’t have to play Barcelona B at the weekend. A weekend away is just what the doctor ordered. We would regroup and bond in France but first a week of high intensity ball control was in order. Vaquero’s lack of pace had cost us dear yet again. If we kept the ball we didn’t have to worry about backtracking after it. That € 200 000 would almost certainly go on a central defender if we could entice one good enough. Lozano couldn’t argue about being dropped for the next league game, either. He had his run, now it was up to Manzanares to do his bit over the border. Just formulating the team in my mind on the bus, I realised we had very little cover in central defence. Fiuza and Enríque could sit either side of Vaquero and hopefully Roche was fit enough to go in midweek against our B team, as Moreno and Rivas would no doubt be given the wide roles. I could expect to play 3-1-4-2 in that game and 3-5-2 in France but really it depended on who was fit enough to go again at the weekend, Mendez the only other option to shift into the defensive midfield space.

Serrano and Ález Gracia would start on the flanks, Diego and Sergio Alonso either side of Mendez. If the top two of Gutiérrez and Daniel Miguel couldn’t work as a two then we really were screwed. But in reserve we had José Javier and Dani. Agudo and Gascón would be reserve wingers, with Xavier in the defensive midfield role behind Vallejo and N’Diaye. Nacho would join us as 12th substitute, just in case we needed him. Third-choice goalkeeper Merino would stay at home. He was too young for the trip to France, considering alcohol may be involved, and I asked Mr Llagostera Muniesa to keep him company that long weekend.

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206.

Perpignan was steeped in Catalan history. We would spent time on the beach before the game, too, as this was a holiday after all. We wanted to keep the tactics as simple as possible because the new systems were utterly untried. After having a chat with Manzano the day before we left, we agreed to take Muniesa with us and leave Nacho at home. He had really fallen down the pecking order and B3 was just too much of step up at 33. He would still have a role to play though, and we told him to take young Merino to his island homelands for the weekend. The Basque had never been over the water.

There was a cool, light drizzle in Perpignan that evening. Training was fun, the performance good in the early morning heat. We’d spent the afternoon on the beach and made time for sleep later in the day. We had our pre-match meal together at the hotel and were told 200 people would be watching.

There were a few misplaced passed and players getting on top of each other at first. It’s good to iron out these problems in a friendly. A wonderful takedown on the turn by Daniel Miguel sent him to the left side of the box and he crossed superbly for Gutiérrez to head in on eight minutes. After taking an exception to the long range shooting we were doing I asked them to abandon the counter and play a natural game. Perpignan had lined up with a deep box formation and we just couldn’t get into a final ball play. Diego was his usual nuisance self and in the end Daniel Miguel pounced on a clearance for 2-0. By now the gulf in class was clear so we set about controlling the game, being patient, and just generally holding on to the ball. We were growing in confidence. Gutiérrez made in three with a nice volley from a corner but you could tell complacency was setting in. I planned on giving them the full 90 minutes but the youths needed their chance and minutes under their belt. All change at half time.

The bloodhound had his hat-trick before 40 minutes with a long-range strike that caught the ‘keeper off guard. The players were really settling into their roles now and perhaps that controlling mentality suited the system. Complacency turned to calm but I didn’t want to rout the hosts unnecessarily. We were trying to build relationships. The second half started poorly, with a few of the faces looking not at all interested in increasing the score. The two senior members Gascón and Agudo, who is captain, looked lifeless. We had to pull back and let Perpignan come out because this was just a training day.

We pulled back even further with fifteen to go. We wanted them to test us and they did. Perpignan rattled the bar with a well-worked throw-in. They got the goal they deserved soon after with a neat header from a free-kick. N’Diaye restored some professional pride in the dying minute of the game with a nice left-footed volley after men had stayed up following a corner. In the dressing room both myself and Jiménez warned about complacency. It just wouldn’t cut it in the league so if I even hear a peep about it, I will have no problem ostracising any one of you from the team. ¡Vamos Llagostera!

Gascón was the word performer by far and he would sit out the B team game. He was third highest earner at the club and so far I’d seen nothing to justify it. Perhaps Manzanares, who was nursing his slight groin injury, could speak to him on it in the stands. The game was in Llagostera this time and it was important to put on a good show. We would trial an entirely under-23 side for this. It’s Moreno, Enríque, and Rivas in defence with Mendez in the hole. Roche and Xabier would be tested on their abilities to play on the flanks.

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207.

I had perhaps dismantled the good work being done on the training ground by removing their plans but this month had to be fit and fun. After the B team game we would sit down and reassess those.

Peso set up with a 4-1-2-3 Wide formation and played the back four as instructed of Ubis and Gran on the flanks with Aizpurua and Ogbonna in the middle. I wanted Toti and José Juan in the middle but he elected to shift Toti wide left. José Juan had a big future in football but his temper got him in the book after three minutes, perhaps frustrated that Gutiérrez was able to have a free shot on goal.

We couldn’t seem to counter with a defensive midfielder on both sides so we stepped out. Before I could make the shout Daniel Miguel was on the deck and calling for a stretcher, rolling around with a hand on his knee. Dani was on in his place and the team were shell-shocked. Moreno conspired with a header to score an own goal under no pressure at all. Llagostera B were ahead. We were struggling with possession so we told them to keep the ball and push higher still. Gutiérrez missed a sitter and I questioned the desire of these youths. I thought the second half at Perpignan was a poor one due to the fact this game was on the horizon. We’re going with a flat five in the middle and you will all stay out there until I say so. They listened intently and a few were even fired up and ready to play better.

Moreno, the guilty party earlier, was at it again. This time, he was in the right box and deflected the shot of Rivas following a corner. 1-1 inside two minutes! José Juan went agonisingly close soon after and the youngsters were looking pretty good. I’d take Gutiérrez off for his protection and ease off a controlling game but before I could he turned provider and gave it on a plate for Dani to score. Dani was taking his chance here and we still had no word from the medical departments about the injury to Daniel Miguel. José Javier was on to partner Gutíerrez to see if he could play that role too. It was never nice to sub a sub but Dani had to be kept fit and fresh. Could Gutiérrez work with everyone?

Yes he could. The ‘keeper got down well to save but it was clear he needed a strike partner as he can pick out a pass once his pace has taken his marker out of the equation. He just couldn’t finish so well these days. A great second striker knows exactly where the primary striker wants it. After a game of head tennis in their box, we won a penalty. Gutiérrez floored by Aizpurua’s towering strength. The captain for the day stepped up, no doubt knowing a goal here would restore him as chief pen taker in the first team. No mistake. Chipped into the top right corner and 3-1. He is becoming a man now.

He later crossed a free-kick and his eyes lit up. Another penalty. José Javier had just missed a sitter in the last few minutes so there would be no sentimental offer here. Gutiérrez… goal! Same place but with much more power. He was one away from back-to-back hattricks. He didn’t get the opportunity but again José Javier squandered a shot. He was a little Gutiérrez in the making then, and couldn’t do the advanced role either. Back in the dressing room, the boys were given a round of applause. They did brilliantly to come back and win that. I told them how proud I was. Later that night González the physio told us the bad news. Daniel Miguel had strained knee ligaments and would be out for over a month. With that in mind, I would reassess the squad. Pedro Gran, the youth team left back, needed and deserved another year with us.

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208.

Daniel Miguel was the only other youth in need of a contract and he drove a hard bargain. We could not afford to keep his first team status in light of the injury which may yet exacerbate, and he took a parity deal with the highest paid youths outside of Lozano. After lengthy discussions with Peso all of the young players roles were reassessed. Xabier and Daniel Miguel were to train as a second striker with Vallejo and José Javier learning their trade as the creative role on the right. Dani, N’Diaye, and Roche would learn broader roles in the middle of the park. Mendez was offered a pay rise to stay at the club for another year and, at 22, I was securing the eventual role next season of a deep creative.

We looked to take advantage of Olot’s perilous financial situation by making an enquiry for Gutiérrez and I was fully prepared to meet his release clause of € 70 000. They rejected the inquiry out of hand but as we were paying his wages anyway I was in no rush until January 1st. We might yet get him for nothing! As only the over-23s were left to tinker with, Manzano chewed the fat with me over squad role and positions. Diego, there is a way we can squeeze in eleven players that are key players, high earners, and influential members of the dressing room. I was listening. Serrano, Nacho, with Sergio Alonso on the bench. I was intrigued. Nacho would cover the playmaker role, Sergio Alonso the two other attacking midfield roles. It was the best of a bad situation for them both. And what of the rest?

Well, no surprises in goal or defence or central midfield. But the key was to shift Gascón into the real playmaking role as that was the limit of his abilities as a footballer. With Diego in the middle, this guy had potentially solved the anonymous midfielder problem. He linked up well with Gutiérrez now so I imagined his preference for getting forward and trying killer passes. Gutiérrez could be asked to play a more attacking role, roaming into the right channel to create space. It’d balance Álex Gracia’s runs on the left in theory and give us a loose front three again. It was always in theory but we toasted his idea and set about formulating a plan for game against Prat. We called Jiménez in too for feedback.

Prat had kept things very tight on the road and so had we at home. There were similarities to before our pasting down at Hospitalet so I approached the meeting with trepidation. Dopi was currently top scorer in the league and the lone striker had to managed if we were to get anything out of the game.

Pedro Dólera had been in charge of Prat for five years so he knew exactly what he was doing. With a chairman happy for him to slip in and out of Tercera twice in that time, Dólera had cultivated a solid 4-4-1-1 that looked to keep men behind the ball and double-up on the flanks once they had pushed higher up. We had to pin them back at all costs. Riera was their primary outlet for getting the ball in to Dopi so Muniesa had to be at his best to stop those crosses. They also had a trio of midfielders in the middle of African descent: Nana, a Ghanaian defensive midfielder who kept hold of the ball from deep and covered Riera’s runs down the right, with Cameroonians Wala Zock getting forward from a deep position Etamané advancing from behind Dopi. It was the sort of complimentary line-up that I  craved. This is going to be difficult. We had a couple of weeks of tapes to catch up on and would pay close attention to Prat, Orihuela, Barcelona B, and Eldense who would round-up October and should in theory be a very winnable game after facing the Catalan giants. We would need it. They were on fire.

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209.

Muniesa was instructed to sit back, Agudo to provide cover only. Gutiérrez would tuck in and we had a defensive philosophy in mind for Prat. They would hurt us if we pushed up and they would hurt is if we dropped back. With Barcelona in ten days it was prudent to see if this free-flowing central attack could work for each other and soak up pressure while sticking to our style of play. There was just the one pillar these days, playing out from the back, but a fluid approach to transitions is paying off now.

To finish catching up, I called Corominas and asked to meet about the players he had found. Talking for hours, we just didn’t find anyone with the quality to immediately improve our squad. At the end of the month we would sit down and look at the transfer and loan lists and begin scouting in earnest.

I addressed the team cautiously: this is a great opportunity to show all the pundits that they are right to back you! I made a point of telling Gascón in front of the team that I believe there’s a lot more to come from him and I completely believe that he’s got what it takes. We sent them out into the night.

We opened the game and kept the ball beautifully under the floodlit Nou Municipal, getting a shot in before our opponents touched it. After a few minutes passed Jiménez shouted to keep passes short and close down Riera who’d made two wayward crosses already. We were frustrating Prat with our possession and they looked to counter at speed. Fiuza was asked to get tighter. We’d shoot on sight.

The rain began to fall so we’d have to switch up. Gutiérrez nearly gave us the lead but our passes will catch us out unless we quicken our play. Vaquero was called over and told to catch Prat cold and get the team to counter-attack. Dopi was coming deep to build play and it got their full-backs into play. I held my breath as one popped a ball over to Dopi who left Fiuza for dead. Thankfully we were deep enough to mean Manzanares only had a narrow angle to block the shot. With five minutes to go, the central defenders were asked to swap around so Enríquez could man-mark Dopi and his tracking run.

We played our normal game, while Vaquero got told to close down some more with Enríquez to hit direct passes to keep the ball away from Dopi and his cohorts. Could we nick it before half time? The short passing slowed us down at the death and again Prat won it back and got it to Dopi. Enríquez hit full speed and still couldn’t catch him. It took the alert Fiuza, tight to his partner, to come over to put the striker under enough pressure to make him shoot wide. It was a let-off. We would drop back for the second half. We’d close down less in a bid to open themselves up to a higher tempo attack. The team was told that we’d been the better side, keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll be fine. Young Mendez was nervous. He had to calm down. Enríquez was two moves ahead of Dopi now when the second half started – I hoped he could keep it up. We were letting them out but it was a dangerous move. Riera was now overlapping Dopi and got a shot in himself. Corner. Diego cleared, refusing to kick the ball out with Wala Zock down. A lovely move ended with Diego having a decent shot saved.

Enríquez lost Dopi again and the forward hit the bar. It was a huge let-off. We were playing some of the best stuff I’ve seen all season but Dopi was getting in on goal time and time again. We swapped our defenders around again as the Paraguayan was exhausted. We made a double substitution for Gascón and Alex Gracia in Nacho and Sergio Alonso, as discussed before the match. We had to work our opportunities now. They were told that they could make the difference here. We need them to.

Dopi got the better of Enríquez, turned him inside out, and crossed for Riera to chip past the ‘keeper for 0-1. We had to go back to our natural game, Serrano was on to bomb down the right flank. Easy to motivate, the winger was our only hope. Sergio Alonso tested their goal and won a corner. It was nearly 0-2, the effervescent Dopi clean through in the rain but he hit the post. Two minutes later we had conceded the tie. Dopi again the dummy runner, the left winger crossing and Muniesa losing his man again. We pushed forward, going through the gears, but we just couldn’t create a clear-cut shot on goal in the final 20 minutes. However, we did keep Prat at bay for that time. It was a cold defeat I didn’t want but this had some real heart. In the dressing room, the players soaking, I couldn’t fault a performance out there. It was just one of those days. It relaxed an exhausted squad. It was now two defeats in a row and the fans were annoyed with the lack of guile in front of goal today. They will get over it and so will we. The extra games had hurt Enríquez but Dopi was all over us regardless. Where he misfired Riera stepped up to the plate. Again, that seasoned squad under Dólera knew exactly the way to win here. I was already looking to the Orihuela game. The staff stayed behind to assess tapes.

Against all odds Castellón held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at home. As expected, we looked good. The woodwork shots were glossed over so it looked close. Orihuela drew 1-1 over at Atlético Baleares. If we were to get at them we’d need to get in behind. We agreed to meet again on Tuesday morning.

I wanted to catch the Liverpool game on Wednesday night so we’d prepare for Orihuela now. Grau and Daniel Miguel signed on for one more year which was very pleasing. Now our attention turned to the elder pair of Manzanares, much improved, and Muniesa who despite his faults was Llagostera through and through. I didn’t want to change too many players in the summer so they were offered deals. We still had five elder statesmen who may yet retire: Fiuza, Vauqero, Diego, Nacho and Sergio Alonso. € 200 000 seven ways would be too difficult.

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210.

We had possibly our longest journey of the season at the weekend. Deep down into the mountains past Alicante for the trip to Orihuela, a midday kick-off. We would set off the night before to make it as seamless as possible for the men. They had conceded the most goals in the league at home so far.

Sergio Sánchez was a charismatic sort, and after jumping into his first senior role before Christmas, that strong personality won them the relegation play-off to keep him in a job. It was a mixed bag so far but again they were a direct, if unorganised, team. Their top scorer last and this season was out injured at the moment although he may yet make the game. Sergio Buenacasa had pace and ability to burn. It was no surprise that my old cohort Fran Oller was pulling the strings in the hole, creating five assists already. We could get at him with a tough tackle which would soon see him lose the will to fight. Defensive player Polaco would be looking to do the same and justify rumours that he was a high earner down in the south. The same would go for Kiki who was their destroyer in the middle of the park. Could we play for 90 minutes? I was prepared to go with the same team if that is possible.

With my trip to Barcelona and the extra travel I decided to call a team meeting to try and gee up the players ahead of this tough trip. I would challenge them. We’re a lot better than we’ve shown so far this season, it’s time to start believing in our ability to stay up. Vaquero totally agreed and the squad followed their captain out to training, heads high and determined. Later, Mendez came in to sign on the dotted line. With this Tarragó put her foot down on committed spend for next year. After going back and forth with her over the afternoon with revisions and budgets, we came to an agreement. I would cede 50 000 from the transfer budget in order to offer new deals to Manzanares, Muniesa, and any prospective signing. Nearly 20% of the wage budget was locked into those five players who may retire or leave. I was certain I could get my full transfer budget in January when it was clearer.

Manzanares was making demands that his ability didn’t warrant. He wanted to retain key status just before entering negotiations. I agreed just to see what we wanted. But no, he wanted reassurances that he would get a big pay rise and that we would strengthen the midfield. Preposterous. I wouldn’t be bullied by anyone at the club and if he wanted out, he could go. Jiménez’s timing was wonderful, then, when he informed me that Roche, Vallejo, and José Javier were beginning to get frustrated at a lack of game time. If they trained hard they would come with us to the heat of Los Arcos. That’s life.

Liverpool were the visitors and the English side would have a job on to break down Valverde’s set-up here. Luis Suárez got his first run against his old club and sent Torreira through on goal but the young midfielder’s shot was held by Mignolet. An excellent run and cross by Zivkovic looked for the head of the Uruguayan and Lovren headed into his own net, under pressure from his own defensive partner!

But the goal wouldn’t stand as Suárez was offside and thought to be interfering with play. On twenty minutes Zivkovic got a legitimate goal from a diagonal through-ball from Messi. Liverpool had it all to do. The first half ended with Barça very much on top. The hosts hit the woodwork twice at the start of the second half, Torreira striking the post and Suárez clipping the top of the bar. Both were from a well-worked set-piece routine. Messi then headed in another wonderful Zivkovic cross – Barcelona is a tough place to come. ter Stegen was equal to the away side’s first meaningful shot on goal and the Argentinean striker Simone couldn’t believe it. Sergio booted the corner clear. Kovalenko’s nervous disposition saw him hooked for Mané, with Coutinho moving inside. Messi and Suárez were pulled.

An incredible run by substitute Rafinha forced an own goal against the tired English defence. 3-0 and game over. Dembélé was on now, and his ball released Jordi Alba down the left. The cross came in, Rafinha met it, and the ‘keeper spilled it! Rafinha couldn’t get there as he was impeded. Penalty. The substitute Rakitic raced to the ball and placed it on the penalty spot, keen to tell the manager who is about to take it. 4-0 and good night. As I made my way back up the coast, my thoughts turned to the weekend. Back at base, training was fiercely competitive. I had a report from the medical staff to let me know that Enríquez and Mendez were at high risk of injury. With the midweek game coming up we should give someone else a chance. I also thought about doing the same with Gutiérrez as he too was treading water. Moreno was superb in training later that day and would get the start he craved.

Roche would sit alongside Vaquero in the middle ahead of Moreno and Fiuza. The boy really wanted his start and his application was suffering because of it. José Javier, fresh off a recent appearance, is to lead the line with Dani in reserve. He was joined by a top trio of attacking midfielders: Vallejo, the improving N’Diaye, and Xabier. We had ready made replacements for the front four while Nacho and Sergio Alonso drop out today. Alex Gracía and Gascón were particularly poor so we would need good replacements who were ready to run through walls for us. In the early kick-off before we left for the game, Barcelona beat Hércules 1-0 at home to leap three points above them in the table. Alcoyano were still the team to beat with an excellent 28 points from ten games. Mallorca and Barcelona were just behind on 25 and 23 respectively. As for us, with our game in hand we were two points clear of the drop zone and would probably not make it count seeing as the rearranged game was Barcelona.

The journey was exciting, having such a young crowd with us. Serrano was the only non-teenager on the bench today so he had to keep them in check. Three more in the starting line-up - we’re making parents proud.

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211.

Far away from the prying eyes of supporters, the exciting young players were briefed on the task we faced. Polaco and Kiki were paired in the middle of the park, while Oller was on his own up front. It is important to in hard on this guy – I owe him one! Buenacasa had made the bench. Is he fit enough to come on? The gusty weather would reward the ball being played on the deck and we would try that.

An early free-kick from Alex Gracia sailed over the bar in this wind. Wonderful play from us forced an excellent save from the Orihuela goalkeeper. He seemed to be a little shaky taking the ball with both hands, perhaps an underlying injury? We would make sure to go in hard on him at corners for good measure. Some particularly poor play down the flanks lead to a succession of half chances for them but clever forward play from José Javier brought us out of danger. Calvillo was getting crosses in for fun down Muniesa’s flank but none of them were reaching tiny Oller, who we’d kept a lid on so far.

With ten minutes to go we looked to turn our possession into goals. It was the right time to gamble.

A terrible mistake on the ball by Vaquero let Oller in to score. I was so angry. He dallied in the middle of the park and was poleaxed by Polaco, who quickly played in Oller to round Fiuza and slice the ball into the net. The wheels came off soon after that, the hosts doubling their shot count as they came to meet our possession with a pressing game. At half time I told them I wanted a much better game.

Within a minute José Javier showed why he was in the team with his hold-up play and within two he had scored! He played a fantastic out-ball to Agudo who whipped it in, José Javier rising high to flick the ball on and over the stranded ‘keeper. Game on. We got to the hour and I decided to make the change – Diego into Gascón’s position and N’Diaye on in the middle. We would exploit the right wing to get the best out of my namesake and the fullback. Soon after it was a double change as José Javier was hurt. Straight replacement Dani was on. The next ten passed without incident as the players just got settled. Orihuela were starting to get on top of the possession battle so we fell back to how we’d started the game. Rivas was thrown on for Fiuza to give us some energy at the back. I had faith in the duo of Moreno and Rivas at centre back or full back. Buenacasa was on for the last part of the game.

We pulled the ace up our sleeve and told the players to ready the counter. We would hit hard, play a direct pass with pace and support each other. There wasn’t a lot left in the legs but we had plenty of teenagers to make it happen through the middle. Two minutes from time Dani finally showed great hold-up play himself and the onrushing, gangly frame of N’Diaye came blistering past and into space.

He shoots… he scores! The team continued their run to mob the youngster for his debut goal. What did Orihuela have? This was a smash and grab victory if we could hold on. Route one football for us.

Six minutes of added time terrified us. We had to be smarter. The four pillars were in play once more and Moreno and Rivas were being absolute heroes at the back. Could we do it? Into the seventh for our final play and Orihuela were giving it everything. The cross came in and Polanco was unmarked… saved! Manzanares was alert to the very end. Applause from all sides of the stadium for that move.

An eight minute of added time. It’s all over! What a victory from this young side. And excellent goals.

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212.

An afternoon at the beach in Alicante was called for as José Javier needed to go to hospital for a toe break. We all felt for him as he would now be out of action until just before the winter break. We’d see if we could go without him until January as there was no need to rush him back into his football.

Muniesa signed on and all eyes were on Manzanares now. We would assess the squad on Tuesday, a day off well deserved. Eleven games into the season and were comfortably five points clear with our game in hand. Eldense got a big 92nd minute penalty win at home to Atlético while Alcoyano got beat at home to Mestalla 1-3 to derail their runaway title hopes but really they had to lose at some point.

Muniesa was one yellow away from suspension and looking a little tired too. We needed him for the next game, Eldense, so he would sit out and the impressive substitute would take his place. Enríquez and Mendez were recalled to the starting eleven. The bench would stay the same due to the positive performances from the youngsters, desperate to play. Gutiérrez would lead the line once more and I hoped he was fresh enough to resume the blossoming partnership with Diego through the middle of the park. The chains would come off after this game, but this is why we’ve been working: Barcelona.

Mújica was top goal scorer in the league with nine, and thirteen assists coming from the wing trio of Keïta, Pere, and Aguilar. They had an incredible array of attacking talent as you would expect but we had nothing to lose. The Saturday evening game was to be played out in the cold, nervy Palamós air.

Vaquero looked to have pulled a hamstring early on in the game. We would switch to shorter passes. We were now dominating the ball but frustration was coming through, Diego picked up a booking. It was uncharacteristic. Cuenca was winning everything in the air at the back so we looked to whip the crosses in. Once the game had settled, Barca were beginning to choose their moments to attack. Our crosses still weren’t working so I urged the players to keep it on the deck. We’ll tighten up for a bit.

It gave us a couple of half-chances but it was clear that Vaquero needed to come off now, ten before half time. Mendez switched the deeper role and Xabier was on – his pace in the middle of the park is going to cause problems. We got to the break at 0-0 and that was fantastic for us. The flanks weren’t an option for us today so Jiménez and I briefed them about looking for the pass inside. I was content.

We hadn’t seen enough creativity from Gascón again so after five minutes he was moved inside with Diego taking the playmaker role as he hadn’t seen much of the ball. A triple substitution showed the annoyance of the manager before the hour and it changed the game. Manzanares made a great, if a little bit Hollywood, save to deny Aguilar. We had to mix it up and get back to our fluid game as they had figured us out. Gutiérrez was asked to push on and look for that break. A triple deflection saw us concede, Mújica getting the final shot in. We couldn’t clear our lines. Serrano was on and we’d go for it. An unbelievable pass from Álex Gracia sent Gutiérrez through and he pulled the shot wide. It was our only chance like it. With ten to go we went for it even more, a high tempo direct game to get at the away side. Dani was on for the bloodhound in the hope his pace and finishing would see us level.

He did it! Gascón winning a flick-on and Diego sending the boy through. We dropped the attacking, I didn’t want to be caught, but kept the style. We held out! What a result!

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213.

Vaquero would sit out a couple of weeks while the physio’s assistant Dioni worked with him in a one on one rehabilitation. We needed our captain back as soon as possible. Mendez would take his role.

Rivas, while commendable, was being eased in just like everyone else and Muniesa took the left back position. Lozano had expressed concerns to the goalkeeping coach Álvaro that I was phasing him out of the team. It was food for thought. Diego performed so well in training. I’d recall Sergio Alonso and Nacho into the attacking roles and shift Diego back into his favoured playmaker slot. Serrano was to start ahead of the tired Agudo, meaning Moreno and Rivas were on the bench. Roche needed to play so sat alongside Mendez, freeing him back into his normal role. Five changes was a lot but it was no disrespect to Eldense – we were bringing first team players back in. A direct, high tempo would be in play from the beginning of the match. Eldense’s manager Jorge Romero was having his horror career in football, the former data analyst’s overly cautious approach got him the sack after two months at Cordoba B in his first job. It was two years before someone else took a chance - it wasn’t going well.

With only three goals all season they were comfortably the worst scoring team in B3. We had to win.

A big game at the top of the table was the Saturday spectacle – something we missed out on with TV not taking up the rearranged game – with Mallorca beating Alcoyano 2-1 to leapfrog them at the top of the table. A win here could see us move into the top half of the table if other results went for us.

A rare dry day at Nou Municipal meant football could be played here today. The team was warned I expected a win. We popped the ball around smartly from kick-off, trying to displace the two men in a box at the base of the away side’s midfield. Eldense were long-ball merchants and made no bones about it. Their second one upfield led to a shot on goal that really should have at least tested us. It’s a warning shot. We’d keep hold of the ball a little more. A fancy ball from Nacho found Diego, and a clipped pass sent Gutiérrez in behind. Goal. Fantastic play from the trio. Sergio Alonso was involved in the build-up play too and I shouted to calm down – we had our goal so save your legs. Suddenly I saw life in the fluorescent green of the visitors and we had to shut it down. At half time I made sure we guarded against complacency. Their striker was getting in on goal far too much for my liking, too.

Sergio Alonso and Nacho were hooked on the hour, Xabier and Vallejo finally in their new positions. Diego was moved inside and the high tempo game was back. We were headed toward victory. If we had any discipline against the new striker we would be ok. Dani was on and told to find any space at all. Eldense got their goal with eight minutes to play – their first shot on target. A wide free-kick was knocked back down and smashed in by Peña the striker. The rain started to pour. Into the last of the added time and Muniesa busted his lungs to win a second ball from their corner. He was in unknown territory. Clumsily skipping a challenge, he popped the ball into the box and over the last defender. Diego took a controlled volley and steered it in. Fabulous, fabulous Llagostera! The visitors threw all they had at us, back to back corners. It was backs to the wall stuff. It was a good, if lucky, win for us.

There was still more to come from this front four and we’d swap Diego and Álex Gracia around for the next one, Gascón in the middle. It might be just the creativity we need to dominate.

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214.

It was the end of the month and that meant a meeting with Tarragó. She was very pleased with what we were doing in B3. She was keen to stress that the board felt that my position was very secure. I’d a strong backing from the players already and she could envision great things ahead. Llagostera were in the top half of the table after matchday twelve so what was there to argue about? Looking ahead, November was a tough month with three away trips around the visit of Badalona. Pedro Munitis had done a good job there with my team, although they were only three points off the relegation spots.

I chanced my arm once more, asking for them to sponsor by study toward a National B licence. This time she relented, agreeing that it would be helpful on the training pitch. I had ambitions beyond a life in B3 and with this I could go places but first I had to knuckle down and deliver success this year.

Training would be much more focussed now. A balanced approach to see us through the week, with attention paid to defending set-pieces. Manzanares needed to improve his effort. One of the worst trainers every week, he would now learn to sweep up anything that Fiuza misses. He had the speed.

If everyone stayed, we had room for two more under-23 players next season. Not that anyone of any quality was interested just yet. I pored over the reject list with Corominas and said give them a clean slate. We made an enquiry about Andoni Ugarte, a one-time loanee at Llagostera. He had come from Real Sociedad B after falling out of favour. He moved south to B4 for a couple of years and earned a move to Segunda B with Ferrol this summer. Already down the pecking order, his initial disinterest is waning. He was a monster central defender, determined and La Liga academy trained in all defence.

Ferrol were playing hard ball. They wanted € 300 000! I offered to pay up his contract of € 80 000. In a big negotiation they dropped to € 220 000. Adding 50% to our offer brought them down further. If we were to get our man we’d lose most of our transfer budget. Their non-negotiable offer was € 180 000 and we were out. I still thought we could get him on a free so one to monitor until the year end.

Xabier broke his nose in training. We’d look after him with a protective mask so he could continue to develop with us. Daniel Miguel was back in training and took training by storm, displacing Dani from the bench. Saguntino were struggling with their rookie boss and sat 18th in the table. It was likely the hosts would start with two up front as a bid to change their fortunes. Bueno and Roque had three so far this season but they were the side’s only goal scorers all term. Bueno was a quick, creative player in his prime and Roque was the same but could also play on both wings and had history in a Tercera.

We would attack but keep the four pillars that we had started the season with, meaning we kept it a bit deeper and narrow at the back. It was a big risk but I felt that even if we conceded we could get a couple of goals there anyway.

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215.

Mallorca had the chance to put more distance between themselves and the second-placed Valencia Mestalla in Saturday’s appetiser. They did it. 3-2 on the night and six points clear at the top, should Alcoyano fail to win their game at home against Villarreal B in the early kick-off on Sunday. I would face them both after the Badalona game. Alcoyano triumphed 2-1 and Badalona dispatched Atlético Baleares 4-0 at home with goals from Amador, Simon, Pardavilla, and Toscano – the house that I had built. Vaquero was left at home to recover as we would need him for that feisty trio of games ahead.

Sagunto was just shy of Valencia and the hosts lined up with a defensive 4-1-2-3 Wide formation, as if it was a mark of respect. Roqué was left on the bench and Bueno would lead the line on his own. A slight shower had descended on the pitch and we made a last minute change to hit them quick. It’s a long time since we wore our away kit, Saguntino’s red shirts and blue shorts clashing with our other.

Lozano claimed a high ball inside the first minute and looked assured. We didn’t catch them cold. It was concerning that we couldn’t break them down so we pulled back a little. We had to start getting back in numbers as Saguntino looked to take advantage of our set pieces. They began to counter at pace. Niguez beat Serrano to the ball just inside our half and whipped in a dangerous cross-field ball that Roqué lapped up, taking the ball first time into the back of our net. This was not going to plan.

There was some fight in us, Diego and Gascón going close. A further run from Diego saw us hit on a counter and Bueno nearly scored again if it weren’t for Lozano. Saguntino’s brutalist approach was killing us. At half-time the there were things thrown around in the dressing room and the staff left in no doubt as to what I expected after the break. Fiuza was hooked for Rivas, Diego was made captain and swapped with Álex Gracia. Gascón had to make dummy runs into the channels if were to get any attacks going out there. After a dull fifteen minutes in which we barely threatened, the quick mind of Muniesa sent Gutiérrez racing away on a curving run in behind his marker. One shot, one goal, 1-1.

Immediately Daniel Miguel was thrown on for Gascón and Álex Gracia came into the middle. Roqué was on now, coming in from the left flank to meet with his strike partner. With ten to go, Diego is on to his third position of the match. Vallejo comes on for Álex Gracia and takes the playmaker role. We needed pace and youth either side of the captain’s ailing engine. We conceded a carbon copy of the first goal, this time from the right. Bueno escaped his marker and hit it first time into the near post.

Saguntino continued hitting balls as high and long as they could. It was exhausting. Bueno was in for the third time and he had his hat-trick. It was no less than he deserved – he escaped us three times – and he’d doubled his goal tally for the season. Unbelievable. The second minute of added time here.

The Saguntino back four had all won all of their headers all game. We could not deal with their guile.

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216.

After taking Saguntino for granted, preparation began in earnest for the visit of Badalona. In goal we recalled Manzanares for his save ability. Lozano didn’t have a chance with the Bueno hat-trick but if the defence in front of him was going to give away one-on-ones I needed a man who could handle it.

Vaquero came back in, Mendez moving into the usual support role beside him. I had made a mistake in swapping Diego and Álex Gracia around – normal service would be resumed. Gascón was in a real rut of form and right now I felt that I couldn’t get the best out of his limited ability. Sergio Alonso is untried in that middle, enigma role despite playing everywhere else in midfield. It was worth a shot.

Agudo was back in, too. Serrano was such a good player to have on the bench but the same couldn’t be said the other way around. Agudo’s defensive prowess edged the great Mediterranean wonderer.

An injury to N’Diaye paved a way back onto the subs bench for Nacho – he and Gascón would share it if Sergio Alonso took to the number ten role. Perhaps sensing that his position was gone, Gascón is now doubling down on his art. He did enough for that place on the bench ahead of Nacho this week.

Similarly, Roche was a beast in training and Dani missed out thanks to a really poor weak. As Daniel Miguel could also play as a striker in this system the youngster was easing himself out of the squad.

The night before the game Álex Gracia tore a groin muscle. It was the worst possible time. I recalled Gascón to the middle by default, Sergio Alonso went on the left and Nacho was left out entirely. We needed Xabier in there again, protective mask and all. Mallorca were involved in a further Saturday night thriller with a 3-3 draw at Villarreal B. All of the goals came in the first half. What a league it is.

A win tonight would push us behind the play-off chasing pack. A defeat would see Badalona leapfrog us and that was not palatable. At all. Our wounded squad made their way to Palamós in the cool air.

There was a mixed mood in the dressing room. Time for Diego the authoritarian. I expect a win here.

With 70% possession in the first five minutes it was clear we were here to play football. Matías was the fulcrum of their passing play so I demanded that we close him down. Without a shot inside the first fifteen minutes Badalona were going to be tough to break down. Enríque and Gascón’s passing was atrocious so I gesticulated that they keep it much, much shorter. They were facilitators tonight.

The rest of the side needed to express themselves. We simply had to get the ball into the box. It led to a loosening of the midfield but not in our favour, Simón skewing two half-hearted efforts wide. I’d no ability to lift the squad at half time. This game would be won by Badalona unless we tried to pop balls over the top. We would stop playing out from the back and encourage Gutiérrez to run ahead.

The quick-thinking of Diego sent the bloodhound through on his unfavoured left foot. He shaped to use his right and pulled it wide of the near post. A good chance gone begging. Sergio Alonso needed to mirror Diego’s role to get anything out the wild striker. Jiménez had to bawl at him to keep central and provide an outlet for the two playmakers. Simón was allowed to tackle him on the wing and run down our left flank, whipping in another useless cross. It missed everyone and Pardavilla was waiting to smash it in for 0-1. That old classic partnership I had cultivated had just accidentally done the job.

With twenty minutes to go we still couldn’t create another chance, despite all our possession. Then I decided enough was enough and Serrano was on. We had to go for it. We still had not had a second shot on goal all game and it made no difference at all. The team collapsed when Luis Carlos came on.

Two goals in the last two minutes consigned us a 0-3 loss. Maestre continued a run from the back to knock in a Luis Carlos pass after good hold up play in front of our defence. Pardavilla added another for good measure. The game had turned on its head. None of our passes were finding their targets.

The two deep defensive midfielders in front of the Badalona back four had done a sterling job. I had absolutely nothing to say to the players after that defeat. With Alcoyano and Villarreal up next this is possibly the start of a very bad run with Mallorca and Valencia Mestalla among our three games for the end of the first half of the season. Perhaps the fixture list was a great leveller but we had lost the most winnable games of our near future. It was time for a tactical rethink of the highest order. Next week we will focus solely on attacking and double sessions at that. An attacking mindset was needed if we were to get anything away at two of the top four home sides in the division. The four pillars are back in action and we play to win. The fans were venting their frustration online that this was a poor defence all of a sudden and I had no answers as to why. We had to do the business at the other end.

I called Peso. What team would he pick and why? It was sprinkled with youth: Lozano, Moreno, and Vallejo getting games. I didn’t agree. But it got us on to talking tactics. We were not getting the best out of our players right now and, given the upcoming opposition, we better make sure they are feel comfortable with what we are trying to do. Agudo and Muniesa were fish out of water at wingback. A more defensive responsibility should help keep us tight at the back. Vaquero was a ball-player and we needed him to face the opponents goal rather than his own, which was to accommodate the full back frailties. Gutiérrez was a poacher but we had to feed him right. Gascón attacking from the left, Diego always looking for him on the right, and Sergio Alonso helping play on to either side. The fruit of our chat would be well prepared for. We called a team meeting.

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217.

We had done ok lately but we had to be a lot better in the next few matches. The fighting talk came not from our captain but from Enríquez. It was perhaps an omen that our captain was no longer the voice we needed in the dressing room. The team meeting concluded like the sound of a death knell.

Ortíz, first team coach, was constantly in my ear about tactical tweaks and it was only now that I saw his help as useful. We had hit our stride with the formation change but the dip in form required us to really analyse tweaks rather than philosophy shifts. We would attack right enough but from the kind of defensive base we soared up the league with. He thought that only one of our four pillars, playing out from the back, would help us against Alcoyano. He urged the squad to be more disciplined in any passing choice as the opposition could punish us dearly despite their mixed form of late. Another big away trip then, as we make out into the hills to Alcoy. We got news on the way that our game versus Mallorca was moved forward for Saturday night. We would get our kit on television at last. At home.

Alcoyano were missing their chief playmaker García, with six assists, in their 4-4-1-1 system and the defensive-minded midfielder Omgba who himself had four assists. Wingers El Haddadi and Cano had goals and assists in their locker but its loan striker Poveda who stole the headlines with six goals. Sub Miguel had five and was also a gun for hire. We had to be weary about him too but who would start.

They both would. Povedo’s pace was to be used on the left flank, Cano coming inside, and powerful Miguel would start up front on his own in a 4-2-3-1 Wide. Their manager had done some homework.

It was soaking wet. I needed to try and gee them up. Let’s go out there and cause an upset. Get out!

Their thick yellow and red hoops were intimidating. El Haddadi was the first to run at us. Fiuza clears.

The classic ball over the top from the side-line saw Miguel turn and shoot but Manzanares was alert. A fine save from an El Haddadi drive through a crowded box meant we were really under pressure. If we could just keep hold of the ball we might keep them at bay. Protect the ball! Vaquero or Mendez took control, taking it turns. When Alcoyano attacked they brought two or three players with each of their runners. They were angry. Half an hour without a goal. Our movement in the final third was not what we wanted but if I didn’t do something soon we would concede. El Haddadi, who was giving a torrid time to Muniesa, should have buried a difficult header at the back post. Two minutes later the towering Miguel headed in El Haddadi’s cross and it was, in my eyes, game over. It was a back to the wall performance from our men but we were struggling to get that final ball in through to Gutiérrez.

On 45 minutes, Diego cracked it. A well-worked throw-in saw the playmaker hit a no-look pass to the other side of the last man and Gutiérrez, on his weak left foot, tapped it home at the near post. 1-1!

I was pleased with how that finished, obviously, and I told them to keep going. There was no shame in losing here. Muniesa was off – he just couldn’t deal with his man. Rivas at least had the positional sense of a centre back. Gutiérrez was asked to change his role – one shot wasn’t enough. We could use his channel running to upset the rhythm at the back. Alcoyano were relentless at the start of the half, scoring inside three minutes despite our battling play. The pace at which they pressed and ran with the ball was breath-taking. This time Miguel got inside Agudo and crossed for the waiting Cano.

We nearly got straight back in it, Gutiérrez forcing a great save from the ‘keeper after a long ball out wide from Fiuza. Sergio Alonso was brought off on the hour, guilty of not making things happen out there. Nacho was on and asked to feed Gutiérrez at every opportunity. We’d switch up to a direct go at Alcoyano. Miquel again pulled wide and sent in Cano for his second and we were two goals down.

But there was fight in us yet! Intricate passes just lacked the final ball. Gutiérrez got a couple of runs into the channel and one saw Gascón head just over. This was much, much better. The midfielder is out of puff and on comes Daniel Miguel to get into the box. It spurred us on further. Gutiérrez got on the end of an Enríquez ball over the top and bore down goal. He committed the goalkeeper, curling the ball toward the far post… wide! It was an agonising miss. The final whistle came soon after some more half-chances for the hosts but we were well and truly done here tonight. It was a great effort.

I completely misread the room and it took the player liaison officer to calm down the fracas. They’d felt unlucky not to draw the game – despite what the statistics said – and I merely wanted to praise their effort despite the score-line. We called another team meeting an hour after the match, once it had all calmed down. There is a real lack of professionalism in this side and it had to be ironed out.

I told them to keep their heads up. This was just a blip – every team goes through them – but it’s so important that we rally together and ensure that first and foremost we survive. That cushion is only six points now and you’d better believe it could be three next week and zero the week after. There is no time for throwing in the towel. I have a two year contract because I’ve earned it. Whether you all disagree is moot. Three games without a win is nothing. I turned that around at the start of the year and I will turn it around again. Try not to concede three goals every game - we’ll have half a chance.

There will be double sessions again this week as I looked to stamp my authority on the team. At the end of the month we would return to normal and try to get through December out of the relegation zone.

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218.

Roche knocked on my door first thing. He wanted his chance in the first team. I offered to bring him on to make an impression but he was adamant he needed match fitness, here or somewhere else. I was happy to give it to him. By mid-afternoon I had more of them in my office. Manzanares, Agudo, and Álex Gracia had stumped up the courage to speak to me about the dressing room atmosphere but none of them would extrapolate. When pressed, they moaned that it wasn’t an enjoyable place to be at the moment. Of course I backed down. I genuinely wanted to do something to improve the general attitude about the place. Working out what that was would take me the whole week. In the morning at general training, I came in with a fresh face. Maybe I wasn’t giving these players credit, in terms of their application or form. González, head physio, was next in the door. The life of a football manager. We still had a few injuries - Álex Gracia and José Javier will miss December but N’Diaye and Xabier could be used. Head of Sports Science Bautista had earlier sent a report promoting the use of some fringe players who were short of match fitness, namely Vallejo and Dani. Vaquero, Mendez, or Diego were potential injury risks with the amount of games they were playing, too. Once Villarreal is out of the way we can begin to get a few games under the belts of those maligned by my approach.

Miguel Ángel had left a good gig at Zaragoza B, where he finished 5th, to stay in B3 as his previous gig was drafted into B4. A similar showing was on the cards for him this season at Villarreal B. The bigger clubs had seen him attain top level coaching qualifications - perhaps at 50 he’s missed the big time.

We now knew the players that didn’t like hard work: Lozano, Enríquez, Mendez, Vaquero, and Nacho had all grumbled about the second week of double training. On Thursday I would call the players to appraise good performances on the pitch and training pitch alike. They didn’t know that was coming.

The first to receive my praise was Fiuza. His conduct had been impeccable throughout this turmoil in the squad. The vice-captain accepted his praise graciously. Manzanares was singled out for his nine saves in the previous game but he just wanted to be left alone on his day off. Muniesa’s training had been excellent all season and it was time to let him know how I felt. Diego was another that wasn’t keen on praise but he desperately wanted to do better than the recent form he’d given us. I couldn’t get Gutiérrez on side about his form either – these players really put the team above themselves. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t buttering up Gascón about his recent training levels but he really seemed to appreciate being noticed. He just needed to do it on the pitch now. Agudo had the best game of his recent past down at Alcoyano, the defensive role benefitting his tackle completion statistics. Delight summed up his reaction to the call. Álex Gracia, although injured, was an influential player and took his job seriously. Those eight first eleven players were given time out of my day as a means to start conversations within the squad. I needed Enríquez, Mendez, and Vaquero to see that their moaning meant they were down in my estimations and undeserving of praise. Team selection was now hard.

Lozano was recalled to the eleven as Manzanares was difficult to warm to right now. This game will top up hit fitness, is against his age group, and keeps my promise to him. Win-win for the manager.

I nursed Daniel Miguel back into the fold with three consecutive substitute appearances and now is his time to shine. Gascón made way. Moreno also needed an appearance so I would keep him in my thoughts and switch out the three senior players that had moaned about training. A new partnership of Roche and Xavier would patrol the middle, the latter slightly short of fitness. Roche would need to occupy a ball-winning role to play to his strengths. Xavier’s pace should get us out of trouble once his sidekick had won it back. The idea was to shift the ball from right to left in the double pivot and that trio ahead of them. Diego would facilitate the ball coming inside for Sergio Alonso who, in turn, had two passing options ahead of him in Daniel Miguel running from his left and Gutiérrez up in the box.

Sixteen-year-old goalkeeper Merino would come along with us for his first taste of a matchday in B3.

Serrano, Rivas, Nacho, and Gascón filled out the bulk of the bench, while Vallejo and Dani were due some game time as early substitutes. One of the staples of Ortiz’s chats was that we switch to a flat 4-4-1-1 formation so I promised him we’d at least work on it after this game. Three at the back was a pipe dream once again so we would ditch them for now and bring back 4-2-3-1 Wide in the new year for another go, too. He wanted to hit Villarreal on the counter, get Roche hounding their 4-1-2-3 DM Wide high up the pitch but keep the discipline that worked so well last week. It’s an interesting idea.

The staff had largely ignored other results for the last few weeks as things closer to home did need attention. We agreed to skip the highlights meeting again this week but we would at least take note.

Badalona had lost their Saturday encounter at home to Hércules meaning we could now get ahead of my old side with a win. Villarreal were unbeaten at home this season, as were a few other sides, but our away form was keeping us afloat. No team lower than us had more points on the road. Just Saguntino could realistically catch us this weekend with a home game against Espanyol B, which was a relegation six-pointer straddling the play-off position. Alzira, just the one point behind, travelled to Mallorca in the other early game. The best case scenario going into December would see Espanyol B win or draw with Saguntino and Alzira lose. We could still have between a three and nine point gap to the play-off position. The Ebro boss, without a win all season, was in trouble as was Atlético’s who was expected to be lower mid-table at worst.

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219.

Villarreal could boast one of the league’s top scorers in lone striker Rosalén. He was quick, good with the ball at his feet, and was nearly halfway to equalling last season’s tally of 20 goals already. At just seventeen he had the world at his feet. Left winger Soria was the creative outlet while the right flank was provided for with full back San Emetario. The back four was very settled and we had to be on it.

It was a bright, sunny midday but the rain had already been. It would be a quick pitch. Villarreal had a surprise in store for us with a narrow 4-3-3, Soria in the middle flanked by Millán, who was second choice striker, and Rosalén. We were keeping tabs on Adell the left back and he was a possible target for us in the window. He was 21 and had graduated with two seasons in the C team and one in the B.

I addressed the team. It was time to put an end to this poor run of form. Make it count. I told Fiuza in front of everyone that I had total faith in him. Daniel Miguel was told that there was no pressure and Jiménez echoed those thoughts with Xabier and Roche. When we came out of the tunnel that rain had started again. Adell was on corners and whipped in a lovely ball for Milán to head over. We were doing a good job of frustrating our hosts in the early stages and we’d finally get a crack of our own. Sergio Alonso picked out Daniel Miguel but Adell made great ground to intercept at the death.

Millán was soldiering on with a knee injury. A long kick from their goalkeeper evaded Muniesa and Rosalén drove down the flank in the pouring rain. Soria lost his man and we were 0-1 down. It was their first shot on goal. Fiuza and Enríquez were both on him but his movement was superb. A deep cross from Adell a minute later found Rosalén at the far post and his header hit the underside of the bar before Muniesa cleared. They really could hit us with any style. We just couldn’t hold on the ball out there. Our fullbacks had to commit more and we’d look to consider our approach play now. Ten minutes were left and Villarreal were hugging the touchlines. A fantastic cross-field ball to Adell saw the ball whipped back in and Rosalén got in front of Muniesa to volley in to double their lead. It was an excellent goal again. Fiuza missed the header on the way and a bad afternoon for the stand-in can only get better. Roche surged forward with the ball and played in Gutiérrez who in turn gave a great ball to Diego, one-on-one. Saved! A terrific stop from Hernández. After we had seen more of the ball things brightened up on the pitch and in the heavens. We got to half-time the better side and these men needed a lift. Unlucky, men. There have been four chances and we’ve just had the last of those.

Within 24 seconds we had conceded again. Xabier struck a pass against a pressuring midfielder and Rosalén was released, shooting low across Lozano. The bench was devastated for the young player.

With the heavy pitch the plan was clearly to hit balls in behind our defence in the hope they’d stop dead for a quick striker to reach first. Xabier played another poor pass but manfully won it back this time before looking up and spotting Daniel Miguel unmarked in the middle ahead of him. The quick pass was in to Gutiérrez and bang! 1-3! A sweetly struck shot from the penalty spot. After an hour Millán finally succumbed to his injury and we would also make a change or two. Sergio Alonso and Diego had been strangely quiet so on came Vallejo and Dani. Daniel Miguel took a knock before my substitutes could get settled on the pitch and Gascón was on in his place. Gutíerrez had the chance to send a reverse pass through to Vallejo but he didn’t see him, continued his run and miscued his shot. It was promising though. A late flurry from Villarreal soon put us in our place. Fiuza’s men at the back had such a hard afternoon and were unlucky not to draw the second half, a 94th minute corner headed in by Salvà. There was time for a Muniesa booking, ruling him out of the Mallorca game, before the referee blew the whistle. With so many kids finishing the game I commended the effort. Mallorca had triumphed 3-0 over Alzira and the other game ended in a draw. Into December, then, and a five point gap to the play-off places and a seven point gap to the relegation zone could only be considered a success. Away at top side Mallorca, three points clear, might see us six games without a win. With Valencia away to round off the year, the home game against Atlético Baleares was a must-win game to keep the fans onside. They had been particularly disappointed with the lack of creativity in the last month and I was keen to make an offer for Adell after his encouraging display in the final third. We would work on our tactical approach in the next few weeks and solidify this try at a flat four in midfield. We could now also look to resolve futures. Fiuza had earned another year’s deal with his tenth appearance of the campaign and Vaquero announced his intention to retire from football at the end of the season. Realistically I didn’t see new deals for Sergio Alonso and Nacho and if Manzanares wouldn’t play ball we only had Diego to tie down. I would initiate talks with him soon.

The pencilled in squad was the same back five bar Rivas in as a fullback looking to make simple balls out to his winger Gascón or playmaker Vaquero beside him. Serrano would take right wing, Diego in the hole. Mendez and Gutiérrez filled the gaps in midfield and up top, while cover would be Lozano, Moreno, Roche, Sergio Alonso, and Daniel Miguel. Two more spots were up for grabs depending on who was best adapting to tactical training by Thursday. We would look to play structured, defensive football on live television but really that’s all we could offer in a bid to hold off the rampant Mallorca side. The Atlético boss has been let go. Would they find a new manager in two weeks?

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220.

Villarreal were willing to negotiate but they did not entertain our low-ball offer of Adell’s eighteen months served of a two year contract. I was happy to let this one go down to the wire – we did not need to get him in January. Not yet anyway. An injury to Muniesa would force our hand but the guy was a tough, consummate pro. A number of players were still unhappy with the work they had to do on the training ground but there was a lack of foresight here as they would all get two weeks off for the winter break. By midweek Mendez had suffered a gashed leg, ruling him out of the Mallorca tie.

Roche was drafted in for his favoured ball-winning role and told to lay it off to Vaquero. Mallorca are to do without top scorer Prats but in reality they had a few. Dioni and Viega could play all across the front line and had been steadily chipping in as many as Prats between them. One of six teams to get more than thirty goals already, Mallorca were expected to blow us away. In defence is where we had to get at them – the line-up was unsettled and inconsistent – and they had just lost the second leg of a close Copa del Rey match against the Barcelona first team. In fact they had only lost three times all season – twice to Barcelona in the cup and once to Barcelona B in the league. They will be wounded.

My first meeting with a journalist in months happened on Friday morning. An odious little toad from goal.com began by not asking about us or the televised game but trying to get dirt on my old rivals at Atlético. The topic moved to the magical points total of 40 and whether we could do it. We will have enough about us to get that and more and I told him so. I was complimentary about Alcoyano having the class to break the B3 status quo when pressed but he began to recycle the same question about how Mallorca were surely going to turn us over. We had a surprise or two in store for them. It began to get my goat but I stopped short of leaking formation or line-up changes. I managed to steer him in to a strong finish about our academy rather than what Manolo Márquez was doing in the Balearics.

So it was with surprise that I read the next day that Márquez accepted my praise of his playing style without so much as mentioning Llagostera. Further puzzles crept up in the morning in Daniel Miguel pulling a hamstring. I wasn’t about to risk this kid’s career with injections after a second injury in as many months, so we ruled him out of December entirely. N’Diaye would come with us our auxiliary striker. It was another breezy evening in Palamós and Ortiz suggested we try to use it to counter in a disciplined manner. We got their team sheet in the dressing room and they had the luxury of making five changes – three of them we’d never heard of. Dioni was on the bench. We relaxed the players in telling them to enjoy themselves out there under the bright lights of television. I led the serenade to Vaquero and told the squad that he would join me on my coaching course as we tried to tempt him into staying with us in a coaching capacity. There were cheers all around and Llagostera were happy.

A tunnel interview was arranged so I stepped out and let them enjoy the revelry. ESPNFC.com sent a representative to ask about the personnel changes, presuming a formation change as well. I was coy.

We kicked off. The crowd roared as we kept the ball in the early stages. It soon levelled out and we had a game to play. Jiménez called for shorter passes to try and resurrect the first few minutes. On the left flank Gascón and Rivas combined well before the former picked out a wonderful cross-field hit for Serrano to chest down and whip in. Gutiérrez wasn’t set and could only head it at the ‘keeper.

Twenty minutes had gone by and we were in this. Serrano and Agudo were getting some joy on the ball so we asked our winger to push on. We were having half-chances and so let the players enjoy a touch of freedom, abandoning the counter. We really struggled to do something with an attacking free-kick and Mallorca seized upon it, Roberto López spraying the ball from one wing to another. The cross came in and González, unmarked, headed over. He should have scored. The ball went from the middle to the left to the right and all three attacking midfielders had done us. We had frustrated the away side for a whole half and we went in buoyant. Agudo had been making some big mistakes so I asked Moreno to get changed there and then. Condé, the young striker, kicked us off. Gutíerrez put the boot in with a calculated foul. Vaquero then spared the blushes of his goalkeeper with a goal line clearance but the phase wasn’t over, Roberto López firing over. We were managing our fitness levels but Roche would be the first to tire. Diego was asked to hang onto the ball as the game went on. We were at the hour mark now and with Vaquero winning as many tackles as Roche, Xabier was on. In a more supportive role we had pace and link-play as an upgrade. A triple change for Mallorca followed with Seguín at left wing, Condé at centre forward, and Roberto López in the middle but still no Dioni up front. He would go right wing with another teenager up front, the experienced Mouriño in at ten.

When Gascón hit a cross out of play Sergio Alonso came on, informing Diego to run at that defence.

Serrano whipped in a deep cross and again Gutiérrez headed at the goalkeeper. He had to run wide.

Dioni rattled the woodwork! The strike overly flash with ten to go. Diego was told to save his energy.

Three minutes of added time. All we had to do was see it out. We couldn’t. The heartbreak of a 92nd minute goal, teenage striker Llorenç tucking away a.. but no! It’s been disallowed! He’d been offside!

We had one more attack but Sergio Alonso was poleaxed on the touchline. We lost the ball. We won it back. We lost it again. It’s all over! We’d broken the hoodoo!

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221.

The boys were delighted and rightly so. They had worked their socks off and shown a passion that had been missing for a month. It was reminiscent of the 1-1 draw with Barcelona. We really could compete with anyone on our day. A couple of good transfer windows and Llagostera might push for a play-off place next season. Again I was pulled away by Paula for a post-match conference this time, with four journalists present. I was asked for my opinion of Espanyol B, ESPNFC.com knowing about my love for Barcelona, and I enjoyed piling the pressure on them by agreeing with the journalist that the considerable turmoil at the club was no surprise given their style, or lack of it. The odious toad at goal.com was there and he tried in turn to pile pressure on me by asking about Alzira’s next game. It needed an honest answer – I wasn’t going to bother myself with their fixtures or results after today’s high. I made a point of praising Serrano for his ability to come into the side and play in a position he had not played in for some time. His attacking instincts were still there and he was an important guy.

We hadn’t received a man of the match award since September but now Serrano was on two, Diego and Gutíerrez one. I didn’t expect the tide to turn overnight - it set us up nicely for Atlético Baleares.

My old nemesis Alfie Smith was generating clicks with a tweet about Llorenç’s dubious offside with a propaganda campaign that Mallorca were being hard done by yet again. I played the embedded tape and video. It was doggerel – the kid was nearly a metre offside and the linesman had a perfect view!

Alzira actually did well to equalise late on at home to Alcoyano in the early 1-1 kick-off. A huge home 1-0 win for Atlético over Villarreal B brought them three points from safety. Carlos Cura, formerly of Atlético de Madrid’s youth setup, had stepped out of the shadows as assistant for the last few years and got off to a flying start. A dead cat bounce? Perhaps. But we shall prepare in our usual way. The most remarkable story was Hospitalet – now ten games without a loss and knocking on the door of the play-offs. Sorry Ebro were 17 without a win and to be honest you didn’t see them ever getting it.

Paula brought the tapes in on Sunday evening and Ortiz was welcomed into the fold, along with the usual suspects Peso, Manzano, and Jiménez. His 4-4-1-1 game plan had got us our result of the year.

My old charges Andrés opened and closed the scoring for Mestalla in a 2-2 draw with Barcelona but should have scored a hat-trick to win it. Lleida’s goalkeeper made two howlers to gift Hospital a vital away win to keep them on top form. Only Barcelona had gone more games unbeaten. Badalona look good under Munitis and a 2-1 defeat at Castellón would not dent their survival hopes. I mused about how my first two clubs, Olot and Santa Eulalia, had suffered in my absence with a sudden relegation despite a cup win and 8th place finish respectively. Yet Badalona, and dare I say it Llagostera, had the Imposta infrastructure branded upon them and would go from strength to strength. Finances in this league are everything and if the suits in charge don’t at least work within reach of sustainability then anyone is going to struggle. Espanyol got a huge 1-0 win over relegation rivals Eldense at the bottom but they could not score again once the opposition was reduced to ten men. Atlético’s goal was just a scrappy second ball at a corner and was otherwise a tight affair against Villarreal. Oller missed his penalty but made up for it later to keep Orihuela’s top third hopes alive up at Europa, barely three points above Ebro. The table was beginning to split in two in the middle so we had to win.

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222.

Sure enough the Ebro boss had time called on his five and half year association with the club. Their board must have felt that he was not up to the task of rebuilding them next season, as they hadn’t a chance in hell of escaping relegation. Andrés Palop was the frontrunner to be given a shot at the gig.

Tuesday night meant Barcelona at home to Anderlecht but first we had an analysis report from our data expert Cabral. Atlético were vulnerable to a flat 4-4-1-1 formation so there would be no change from us, although we had to make plans to deal with recent man of the match Altimirano on the left wing. He looked to cut inside but it left a gap between their left back and the central defender who’d push wide to cover the angles. Diego had to be on his best form to exploit that and earn his contract.

Anderlecht lined up in my 4-2-3-1 Narrow formation and Barcelona happily played around them, out to the wings, around the corner and 1-0 on four minutes. Dembélé’s pace giving Suárez an easy goal.

The game soon settled and Suárez fell and hurt his neck. Rafinha was on in his place, which was odd. Teodorczyk missed an open goal but was flagged offside following a corner. Two schoolboy errors. If anyone was in doubt as to Messi’s qualities in this defensive formation, his run on half an hour took out five defenders and silenced the critics. His shot whistled past the post from outside the box. The home side struggled to break down the visitors after that and half-time woke us from our slumber.

More of the same followed and Messi was being pulled deep to try and make something happen. He didn’t need to, Rakitic feeding an unmarked Sergi Roberto down the right, occupying Messi’s space. The cross came in first time and from some distance Rafinha scissor-kicked the ball into the net. That was a fantastic goal and justified his inclusion. In many ways Valverde’s Barcelona were the highlight reel team of Europe but the fans ached for more, the days of Guardiola. Sergi Roberto then sent one in for Zivkovic to head in. 3-0 flattered my team but 3-0 is 3-0. Dembélé made it four with a volley of his own in injury time and the fans went wild. On my drive home I got a call from Ortiz and pulled in.

Diego, the players need a rest. Half of them are planning on saying something to you tomorrow and I think you should head them off at the pass. The malaise had gotten more followers during the week.

There were not many senior professionals who wanted to do extra training. The mentality of Tercera is still with some of them. In fact, beyond Muniesa it was touch and go with the others. Recruitment is going to be focused on the kind of leadership this squad needs but they’re not easy to get hold of.

Thursday morning I had it out with the players. Look, we start again after the winter break. I can see that you’re tired so we’re going to scale it back while we get these last two fixtures done. After that, Ortiz and I will sit down together and work out development plans for all of you. But be warned that some of you will be moved on if you don’t apply yourself. Say goodbye to Girona and say goodbye to Palamós and its many beaches. The teams in trouble and needing players are not in areas you want to live. There are only two ways out of this division and I intend to help you up rather than kick you down. With that, I met with Corominas. It was largely for show but I had to be able to back my words up with actions. There was little need to change the back five that finished the last game so the side walked through transitions with that clean sheet crew. Mendez was recalled to the bench at the cost of Sergio Alonso. Lozano would join him in the stands as we looked to bring Muniesa and Agudo as cover in the full back area. Ortiz felt that Roche was an unnecessarily defensive choice in the middle so Mendez was swapped in before the team was announced. Serrano would kick on with his attacks in the last game and was told to get down the side of the box before looking for Gutiérrez. The guy was just getting used to where Serrano puts the ball and would surely bury any similar chances now.

A curious news story had been published regarding us signing a teenager we’d never heard of. I got Peso on the phone. Get me everything about this kid. He’s at Compostela under-19s and someone somewhere has made a link. Make sure we don’t have egg on our faces. I can’t let this one get away.

A nice dry day at Palamós for once. Atlético Baleares, black shirts and shorts with yellow socks, got us underway. We fought to win the ball from off them, back to back wins breeding confidence in the islanders. We were a goal down inside a quarter of an hour. Sanz ran from midfield to get on the end of a long ball and crossed for striker Adriano to head in. It was a cheap goal. Atlético had men behind the ball and were a tough nut to crack. We lurched to half-time without ever creating anything good.

I read them the riot act. Diego scored a superb equaliser after two minutes, taking his time on a pass from Gutiérrez who had skipped a challenge to give it to him. Serrano capitalised on an awkward ball to surge down the flank, into the box, and across to Gutiérrez for 2-1 after four minutes. Whatever’s been said at half-time has finally had the desired effect. Diego then sent Gutiérrez through for 3-1 on ten minutes! Incredible! He lashed that one in! Atlético then hit the woodwork twice in two seconds.

Muniesa and Agudo were on to deal with the wing threat and see out the game. Gutíerrez picked up a booking in the hunt for his hat-trick but Vallejo was now behind him to do the legwork. Muniesa’s lost Dieguito and of course the cross found Altamirano for 3-2 at the death. All five minutes of added time were lost to our possession. We had done it! That ten-minute barrage got us over the line. The gods of football had smiled on us today…

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223.

It was time to start thinking about squad development. There were some guaranteed exits, Vaquero and Manzanares with retirement and a contract dispute, and some for the release list. Sergio Alonso and Nacho had not been able to find a way to stick to the matchday squad, despite a promising start as a duo at the base of our midfield. I would notify them ahead of the squad break. Unlike others we would not be playing any friendlies, having made the trip to France earlier in the season. With half a year of B and under-19s football under their belt, youngsters on senior contracts would be blooded in to the senior squad. It was likely that those not already on full-time deals would be released, bar the exciting talent of José Juan. His raw mental strength and physical abilities would push our senior squad size to 32. Aizpurua, Manzaro’s signing for the B team, had no place in professional football so he would be released at the end of the season. At 22 there was no chance he could improve enough.

Of the 32, five were in the youths and seven were in the stiffs. The trip to Valencia would be friendly as manager Edu Vílchez had finished his career at Palamós and managed both them and Olot before taking a coaching role at Nàstic. He returned to the hot seat last summer and led Mestalla to a third place finish. We would bring local gifts for him and Tarragó would come with us on the bus to greet him. It was a nice, family club here and a fitting way to sign off the year. On to the opposition, then, and Andrés had ten goals in twelve games up front. Fran Navarro, his strike partner, had eight from eighteen and we would face an old school 4-4-2. It was direct, it was wing play, and it was pressure.

Álex Gracia had finally recovered from his torn groin muscle and was now in rehab. He had missed five games and could yet make an appearance down south this weekend. I would bring him back in as a direct competition for Serrano at right wing. He could play anywhere but we needed help there.

The staff gathered on Thursday morning to discuss the team. Roche and Vallejo were vying for their bench position with their performances during the early part of the week. Fiuza and Dani weren’t at the races this week – even Manzanares was – so they might miss out. Daniel Miguel returned to the bench and N’Diaye made way. This was our last game so I would leave behind those who were short of match fitness. Fiuza got a bench spot for his lack of application so we would move Roche there for this one and Lozano got the nod in goal to keep him happy amid scouting from Hércules, as Manzano had warned me during the week. As the weekend approached José Juan signed his first professional deal. It was hard to explain just how good his non-football ability was. He just understood what it is to be a warrior on the pitch. If he could improve the technical side he would be snapped up quickly.

Diego put pen to paper on a one year extension on the same day that Muniesa suffered concussion. Álex Gracia would come with us after all. He’d picked up a slight calf strain coming back into training but he wasn’t going to come on anyway We had to try and counter Valencia as they hunted for goals and maybe this time we’ll start the game in the first half. A big result at the top of the B3 table saw Mallorca beat Hércules 2-1 at home to go seven points clear but Barcelona had a game in hand. With a last-minute change of heart I decided to leave Álex Gracia at home and bring José Juan along for a taste of professional football. He was match-fit and if the game called for a destroyer he would even play.  

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224.

Now listen boys, we’ve got nothing to lose here. We know how good we are, so let’s show everyone how capable we are. There’s a bit of a breeze out there to cool you down so get forward together as one and defend from the front. We’ll have chances. Take them. You’ve got two weeks off afterward.

A Lozano kick was sent straight back down the channel. Navarro was on it, got to the by-line and up came Andrés to head it in. Not four minutes on the clock and we were behind. Valencia were so fast as closing us down and recycling the ball. Another long hit down our right was crossed in and again Andrés was there for 0-2 on 12 minutes. This was a disaster. Valencia were just too good for us over the breadth and width of the pitch. A right wing cross to nowhere was headed in at the back post by Navarro. 0-3 on eighteen minutes. I felt sick. Three long balls from Mestalla - it’s already game over.

Our first chance of the game presented itself on half an hour, Gutiérrez putting Mendez through but his first touch took him too wide and he blazed the shot over the bar. Our confidence was shot. We had to come out and play. Try as we might the sheer physicality of the back four beat us to every hit in the air and every ball on the deck. I was trying to fight fires all over the pitch. We got to half time.

Mendez and Moreno were off. Too many mistakes from good players. We’ve already lost so it is the perfect time for José Juan to come in, Agudo at right back. Roche would now step out to help out the new professional. That was absolutely terrible, your performances have been extremely poor. Move.

Serrano got clear of his an and put the cross in on a plate for Gutiérrez. No! Again he heads straight at the goalkeeper. Daniel Miguel was being readied to come on after six minutes after that. He had to harry the defence and let Diego take up striking positions just off his shoulder. The gulf in class is disgusting as Andrés gets his hat-trick moments later, curling a left-footed effort from inside the box after a goalmouth scramble. We have gone to pieced today. The players are already on their holiday.

Daniel Miguel finally held up the ball and waited for Diego to make a run. He fed the number ten the type of ball that gives you too long to think about it before you get there. He blazed wide as the man between the sticks stood tall. We should have had three goals today and I imagined we’d get none.

José Juan was doing well with his passes but like everyone else he couldn’t get near a Valencia man.

Finally a move of theirs broke down and Serrano lazily launched it back into their half beyond those high-line defenders. Daniel Miguel gave chase, took a touch, and shanked a shot wide of the target.

Valencia closed every passing lane in a way that forced mistakes. It was tortuous to watch. I decided there and then that I would not be sticking around with Tarragó for the festivities. We had a team to pick up off the floor. Another long ball wasn’t dealt with and again Navarro scored. 0-5 with fifteen minutes to go. This was a long afternoon indeed. Energy levels were the lowest they’ve been all year and we had nothing left. Daniel Miguel mustered some but his shot clipped the post and went wide.

We deserved a single goal from this but first their minds let them down, now it was their bodies. In again, Daniel Miguel had been superb today, and Diego had a chance to put it right. No. The corner came in… José Juan! He’s scored on his debut! Through a crowd of players he just hit it hard and in!

Soon, it was all over. Appalling.

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