Six weeks ago, Luis Castro was still the coach of FC Nantes. But at the end of a day where he began by settling scores at a press conference, notably accusing the press of spreading false information, the Portuguese coach had indeed been ousted from a club he had only joined the previous summer. He is now part of this very long list of technicians fired by Waldemar Kita: 21 in total since August 2007 and the takeover by the Franco-Polish businessman. With 13% victories, or 2 in 15 matches managed, he has with Miguel Cardoso the 2nd worst record of this era, behind all the same the unbeatable Raymond Domenech, no success in 8 matches.
The 45-year-old coach did not remain unemployed for long. 10 days after his dismissal, he found a position with Levante, bottom of the Liga. The maintenance mission promised to be delicate with 6 lengths behind the first non-relegation team only after 4 matches on the bench, the Spanish club is already back on track. In just 4 games, Castro has already obtained as many victories as the banks of the Erdre and the Loire. The Granotes are certainly still relegated, now 5 points behind the waterline, but the race is completely restarted with an average of 1.75 points per match. They have already gained a place, even dropping Oviedo, 4 units behind.
First victory of the season at home in the 90th + 6
The first authoritarian success against Sevilla FC (3-0) restored confidence and morale to a group which was sorely lacking. The draw obtained at home against Espanyol (1-1), currently 5th in Liga, confirmed this new dynamic. The defeat without merit on the pitch of Real Madrid (0-2) in an electric atmosphere was quickly evacuated. Levante does not play this championship, rather that of hard work where the slightest point gained can have an impact on the final ranking. This weekend’s stunning success against Elche is down to this marker. Initially trailing, the Valencian club turned the situation around in the second half, before equalizing in added time. Then Alan Maturo appeared to offer the three points to his team (3-2) in the 90th + 6.
If it is still far too premature to qualify this incredible scenario as a victory for maintenance, it obviously has a major impact on the state of mind of this completely reinvigorated group. “What struck me the most was that, even after the equalizer at 2-2, the team’s determination was such that they managed to win», rejoiced the Portuguese technician, celebrating in passing the first home victory of the season. Even the public is now in his pocket. “I told the players that we might lose, but we have to give everything, and then the fans will be with us. The most important thing is Levante“, he assured last Friday. Seven months later, the City was finally able to roar with pleasure.
Tactical change, psychological springs and transfer window
This message to fans is far from trivial. This rescue mission also involves them. For the Elche reception, he asked that the team arrive at the stadium by bus, surrounded by more than a thousand vocal fans. This common front is not the only change. Pre-match preparation took place at the hotel for a sort of mini training camp. There are psychological springs but also tactical and managerial ones. Luis Castro switched to 4-2-3-1 for better team balance. He can also rely on the help of a few recruits who arrived this winter, despite bloodless finances. 2 players have already packed their bags and it’s probably not over.
Among them, we find the French midfielder on loan from LOSC, Ugo Raghouber (22 years old). The technician knows him well having had him, already in the form of a loan, at Dunkirk last year. His performance against Elche is enough to raise high hopes. “He can do even better, but his match was satisfactory», summarizes the coach. Winger Tay Abed, “a good player, for the present and for the future», arrived from the PSV Eindhoven reserve, is also eagerly awaited by his new coach. The objective now is to capitalize on this dynamic despite upcoming difficult meetings against Atlético and at San Mamés against Bilbao. “We know it’s a marathon.» Endurance had not been Castro’s strong point in Nantes, it is already more so in Spain.
Pub. the
– UPDATE
