UE Olot goalkeeper Pol Ballesté admitted that the dressing room is already discussing a push for the top rather than merely fighting relegation, despite the team’s start in the Lliga, according to a report by diaridegirona.cat. Sitting third in the table with 10 points out of a possible 15, the Catalan club is under manager Roger Vidal.
A Tough Preseason Prepares Olot for the Lliga Campaign
Ballesté noted that a grueling preseason schedule — which featured matches against higher-category opponents such as Girona, Espanyol, and Sabadell — ultimately forged a tighter squad cohesion. Even with several key players sidelined by long-term injuries, the team has established a competitive edge early in the campaign. “Perhaps Roger Vidal, the coach, will kill me, but in the dressing room today, there is more talk about being at the top than about saving ourselves,” Ballesté told diaridegirona.cat. He emphasized that the squad possesses the maturity and quality to challenge for ambitious targets.
Balancing Strong Away Form with Home Improvements
While Olot has struggled to secure victories at home in the opening stretch, the squad has put together a run of three consecutive away wins. Ballesté pointed to the upcoming fixture against Terrassa as a prime opportunity to correct their home form in front of a capacity crowd. “It’s a curious thing that last year we were strong at home and now it’s the opposite,” Ballesté said.
Viral Stop in Logroño Secures Crucial Three Points
The goalkeeper recently drew widespread attention following a stoppage-time save during a 3–2 away victory in Logroño. With victory hanging in the balance, Ballesté reacted in fractions of a second to clear a ball off the goal line. “I had to decide in tenths of a second… I intuited which side the ball would go and threw myself earlier because otherwise, I wouldn’t have reached it,” he explained. The save preserved the win and fulfilled a playful pre-match wager from the coaching staff regarding days off.
Journey Through Spanish Football and Cadiz Memories
Now in his sixth year across two separate stints at Olot, Ballesté reflects on a nomadic career that began in Barcelona’s youth academy. After leaving at age 17, his career took him through Málaga, El Palo, Cádiz, Granada B, UCAM Murcia, Badajoz, Melilla, Cultural Leonesa, and Torrent. Recalling his time as a 20-year-old goalkeeper at Cádiz in Segunda B alongside players like Dani Güiza, Ballesté remembered starting the day that Madrid was eliminated from the Copa due to an ineligible lineup.
Looking Ahead to the Terrassa Fixture
Olot will look to translate their away momentum to their home turf when they host Terrassa on Sunday. Local supporters are expected to fill the stands as the team aims to extend its run near the top of the table.
