The notes, at the end of the course. Always. Until there is a definitive verdict, whether positive or negative, it will not be time to assess how it all went. For that to happen there are still months and months ahead. A long way to go that starts this Sunday in the Valencia field. Now, with the pre-season closed, after a month and a half of preparation, with friendly, intense training sessions and even a stay of a few days in the Vall d’en Bas, the first conclusions can be drawn. Some brushstrokes to see what the direction is, where it’s all going, although the squad is by no means closed and the signings that have arrived must be adapted. Beyond the results, with markers of all kinds, and a performance that has mixed lights and shadows, some proper names can be highlighted at the same time that the question box is opened and the first tasks to be done are presented as soon as possible
Castellanos, arrive and grind
Six signings have been made and more will be added in the coming days. The club has tried to strengthen all positions. One of them is the attacking area, because with respect to the last season they have lost effective ones, such as Nahuel Bustos or Pablo Moreno. The bet has been clear: to look for a forward of reference who can compete head-to-head with Cristhian Stuani. Valentín Castellanos has arrived and his presentation in society has been spectacular. He has played three times and has become the star of this summer, scoring three goals. He has pierced the goals of Andorra, Naples and also Bolívar. Now it will be his turn to show if in the First Division, a much more demanding context, especially if compared to Major League Soccer, where he competed with New York City, his performance is also decisive. At the moment he has made numbers to start at Mestalla or, at the very least, to dispel doubts about who should be the starting striker in Valencia.
Samu fades the unknowns
The last year ended, with the promotion in the pocket, and the folder of possible exits was opened. The name of Samu Saiz was added. With the relevant questions, of course. Doubts that the footballer has been responsible for fading during the pre-season. When it was his turn to play, he responded. He has left the intermittent to be effective and decisive. Assists of merit aside, the attitude is that of a player who wants to stay and be important in Primera. Míchel has caught the message, and so has the club. The technician stated, a few days ago, that he is “convinced” that all the pieces of the first team will continue. Samu included. The 10, therefore, will stay. From what he has offered so far, it wouldn’t even be at all strange to see him at eleven on Sunday in Mestalla. The League, however, will be very long and it will be necessary to see what his degree of involvement and performance is.
The maturity of young people
At the beginning of July, a few layoffs were announced. There are first team players, such as Bernardo, Ibrahima Kébé, Borja García and Iván Martín, who are injured. And the signing counter is still halfway. This is how Míchel has had to work in recent weeks. The coach has had no choice but to turn to grassroots football, which is increasingly powerful. Young people have responded and they have responded in a remarkable way. Increasing the quality of training, but also performing at a high level during matches. On Sunday, for example, Lluc Matas made his debut under the posts and saved his team from defeat with a meritorious intervention at the end. There are more. Àlex Sala, Àlex Almansa, Biel Farrés, Joel Roca, Èric Monjonell or Óscar Ureña, among others, are added to the list. Pieces that will be important in the subsidiary, that will add up in every training session of the first team. Some of them, of course, could leave on loan.
A chameleon team
Míchel landed in Girona a year ago with an idea in mind. He tried to transfer it to his players but, conditioned by the results, initially quite bad, he gradually adapted to the idiosyncrasy that had been installed for some time in Montilivi. The bet to play with three central players has paid off and this is how they ended up going up to Primera. However, this is not the only drawing that has worked as a team. During the summer he has been seen betting on this system, but throughout the games Míchel has been varying his pieces and has also made the team play with a line of four at the back for many minutes. Two or three centre-backs, deep laners or less offensive full-backs… There are a handful of possibilities. It is true that the loss of a central player like Bernardo has opened up the range, and that for weeks, there was only Valery to play on the left. Now, with all that said, it remains to be seen how this adventure will begin in Mestalla.
Terraces, pleasant surprise
Ramon Terrats is only 21 years old and landed in Girona to strengthen its subsidiary, Tercera RFEF. On his own merits, he won the trust of Francisco Rodríguez, first, and later of Míchel Sánchez. He has made it big accumulating minutes in Segona and not even the promotion will erase him from the map. He has been one of the players with the most prominence during the pre-season, operating in midfield and also outlining himself on the left in a three-man defence. Versatility at the service of the team with a remarkable result, which confirms him in the squad and invites him, at least initially, to make his debut in the First Division soon. Seeing how he has performed so far and the funds at his disposal, that he plays in Valencia on Sunday is not at all crazy. His adaptation to the elite and evolution, waiting for possible signings and the return of the injured, will confirm whether or not he has continuity. For now, the credit is hard earned.
