“Without arrivals there could be no departures.” This is how crystal clear César Palacios was yesterday in his usual appearance to assess the closing of the market … to justify that Eibar has closed the winter window, being the only one, along with Málaga and the Real subsidiary, that has not made a single addition, while at the last minute it agreed with Udinese to terminate the loan of Leonardo Buta, who was immediately loaned to Río AVE in Portugal.
However, the departure of the Portuguese full-back was not enough to solve the budgetary limitations imposed by LaLiga, so the sporting director openly acknowledged that he could not carry out any of the plans that appeared on his agenda. “Internally there are always different situations, but everything has to fit together and it has not been possible.” And, as he says, «LaLiga is like a puzzle. And if being able to register all the players in the summer was already very difficult, we knew that in this market, with no exits, there would not be any entries,” the Navarrese explained with resignation.
The only fax that came out of his office was the one he sent to Udinese to put an end to a loan from Buta that had already “lost its meaning” by ceasing to count in Beñat San José’s plans after an encouraging start to the campaign that ended in ruins. His argument to explain the gradual disappearance of the Portuguese defender from the team was that “the trajectories change and the team evolves. We understood that he had a lot of potential and at first it was seen, but they have to follow the results and his expulsion in Ceuta cut off his progression.
Elche came for Marco
At least he managed to prevent Elche from taking Marco Moreno in a last-minute rush with money involved. And in this sense Palacios was forceful when referring to the interest in Marco Moreno that emerged in the final stretch of the market: “Yes, it is true that there was an attempt by Elche, but he is an important player, who is being the protagonist and was and is a club bet.” And that is why an offer that would be around half a million euros was completely rejected. “An exit of that profile would have done us a lot of harm and at no time did we consider it.”
He confessed that “I don’t like the winter market” because he believes that “it distorts the competition and the configuration work that is done in the summer.” And given that they have kept 24 of the 25 that made up their project, they insist that “now is when we risk everything and we have to trust them. We have 24 players and enough alternatives”, in reference to the inclusion of reserve winger Hugo García in the usual dynamics of the first team.
And it is precisely in “the squad” where in his opinion lies the strength of an Eibar that has avoided, at least for the moment, the qualifying difficulties that were suffocating it until a positive streak has finally arrived that has allowed it to add 14 of the last 21 points at stake.
Hence they have renewed the confidence they have maintained in San José during the worst moments of the championship. “Stability is essential to improve and we have managed to stabilize in a section of the competition that is beginning to be decisive,” emphasizes the sports director. Because, despite the fact that “there is almost the entire second half ahead, now is when the strength of the group has to make us better.”
Mada, the big ‘signing’
Without any reinforcement to put in his mouth, the conversions that the San Sebastian coach has been applying for some time with some players are here to stay. “The reconversion of Peru in the axis, where it is performing very well with Marco, means that we are covered in that area and allows Arbilla to be moved to the left wing.” In addition, he added that “Sergio’s great role in the midfield as a fundamental pillar and Lander’s growing role” support, together with Aleix Garrido, a core line in which both Javi Martínez and Ander Madariaga can also be included, who after his recovery has emerged “as the great signing, because although he reappeared in November, he has the best to give after overcoming the nine months of recovery required by the serious knee injury suffered last year.”
He was also happy about the renewal of Jonmi Magunagoitia, whose prominence with performances like the one he signed against Sporting de Gijón “is great news for the club and for the youth team,” highlights the Navarrese, underlining the great work being done in Areitio.
The role of substitutes
Of course, without the possibility of finding accommodation for those who are having fewer minutes, as is the case of Toni Villa, the sports director appeals to the strength of the group, but also demands that those on the bench must take a step forward. “Only eleven play, but the importance of those who have fewer minutes is basic for the team to continue growing,” he noted. For this reason, when he was asked about the situation of Adu Ares, without playing since he suffered a domestic accident, he pointed out that “there are players who can raise their level and Adu has to be one of them. “We have full confidence that he can play a leading role.”
Six reinforcements and four injured in Zaragoza
Football things, while Eibar could not get a single signing in their mouth, Zaragoza experienced a frenetic last day of the market closing the contracting of three players who have joined the other three reinforcements acquired in recent dates. It was the coach himself, Rubén Sellés, who without leaving the office of the sports director, Txema Indias, activated the arrival of the young left back Juan Larios, on loan from Southampton. And as the hours passed, they also first closed the incorporation of the central defender Jawad El Yamiq, who arrives with the letter of freedom from Al-Najma of Saudi Arabia, and finally that of the Ghanaian midfielder Mawuli Mensah, transferred by Betis, where he played in the reserve team. Names that join the offensive midfielder Rober González, Agada, and Cumic, already installed in their new home. Signings that will be needed by a skilled team, which yesterday announced the absences due to injury of Kenan Kodro, Keidi Bare, Toni Moya and Raúl Guti.
