In 2009 a man went for a walk. Well it was more of a hike. At the end of the hike he stood in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary and begged for a miracle. Mauricio Pochettino took over at Espanyol when there were 3rd from bottom. Few had faith in that Argentine and less when he found himself and his team at the bottom with just 22 points and only 10 weeks to go. He hiked the 12 kms to Montserrat and put Espanyol’s faith in a higher power. It worked!
Nobody likes to live beside a neighbour who has a bigger house and is richer and constantly rubs your face in it. Imagine if that neighbour was Barça? If there is anybody who hates Barça more than Real Madrid fans it is the Espanyol faithful. Even their moment in the sun was overshadowed by Frank Rijkaard’s Barça winning the Champions League. Even when they got to the UEFA cup final, Barça still won the league. The Camp Nou was rocking after years of disappointment, down at the Olympic stadium they had to place huge advertising posters to hide the fact that the ground was empty. Throw in the awful running track that went around the ground and it was no wonder the Espanyol fans breathed a huge sigh of relief when they finally were planning to move to Estadi Cornellà-El Prat.
But there was one small problem. What was the point in having this sparkling new ground if the club were going to play in La Segunda? Being 3rd from bottom some expected the club to sign an experienced manager who could lead the club to safety and so the signing of Mauricio Pochettino raised more than a few eyebrows. The ex player was now coaching players he played with and some doubted that he had the mental strength to make the step up. But he did and he also had the strength to make a tough decision when needed, just ask Raul Tamudo!
Pochettino has recently been linked with the Real Madrid job and it is no surprise. He was an outsider for the Atlético de Madrid job last summer with some journalists fearing that working for ‘Los Rojiblancos’ would destroy him and everything he had built. Something similar could be said were he to take over at Real. Pochettino has worked miracles at Espanyol, signing youth players and developing them. Rui Fonte is one of ‘Arsenal Could Have Beens’. A player who featured mainly in the Carling Cup but failed to move up. He moved to Crystal Palace and failed to make it in the 2nd tier of English football and went home to Portugal where he failed to make a splash. He signed for Espanyol B but Pochettino saw something and he has worked himself into the 1st team. But Fonte is just one example. Vladimír Weiss on loan from Man City, Thievy Bifouma and Philippe Coutinho, also on loan, are all under 23 and are all exciting players. The rest of the squad is not much older. It is clear to see the progress being made by the Argentine Coach.
And now they are close to the Champions league. Once again it is their city neighbours who are earning all the headlines, even if this time they are negative headlines but still Barça will always come first. Against Getafe they had a good chance to move into 4th. Getafe will feel unlucky to only come away with a point as they had chances to take the game. Espanyol looked dangerous and had chances but when they went down to 10 men, it was decided that a point was good enough. And it will be for now and Espanyol live to fight another day and try again to take one of the Champions League spots. Should they do it, will they get the press they deserve?
First time for everything
It was Clemente 1st game in charge of Sporting and did he enjoy it. The Coach who has had a career and a half working in club and international club. This week he made headlines claiming that he wouldn’t shake Michel, Sevilla Coach, hand after an argument they had over 14 years ago. A point against Atlético was the perfect start, but can he lead them to more.
And in Clemente’s 1st game, Atlético also conceded their 1st goal under Simeone. Having not conceded since December against Real Betis, Courtois conceded as Sporting ground out a draw. Atlético fans still looking on the positive side of things. Simeone still undeafeated though. Next up is Barca for El Cholo.
Down at Sevilla it was a day of firsts too. Michel won his 1st game at Sevilla but more important so did Jose Antonio Reyes. It was the wingers 1st win since his move from Atlético.
Another win for Abel as Granada trash Real Sociedad. Athletic Bilbao beat fellow Champions League contenders Málaga whilst Rayo hammered Levante away to put the team 1 point off the Europa League spots.
Real Madrid and Barça win.
Getafe 1–1 Espanyol, Madrid 4–0 Racing, Granada 4–1 Real Sociedad, Athletic 3–0 Málaga, Sporting 1–1 Atlético, Mallorca 4–0 Villarreal, Levante 3–5 Rayo, Barcelona 5–1 Valencia, Zaragoza 0-2 Real Betis
La Liga News 24/7
Pingback: Viva La Liga: A View From A Madrid Sofa ~ Round 24: In Pochettino we trust – Forza Futbol