Abel leads Granada resurrection
Just as Diego Simeone has turned Atlético de Madrid’s fortunes around, Granada have also been resuscitated by a change of coaching staff. Abel Resino‘s arrival as substitute for Fabri on the Granadino bench has brought a new, positive impulse to the Andalucians – one which has been reflected both in the team’s position in the Liga BBVA standings and in the way they are now performing out on the pitch. In the four games played since Abel took over the reins, Granada have collected nine points from a possible 12, seeing off Málaga, Betis and Real Sociedad. Their only defeat under the new coach came against Molina’s Villarreal. It’s a run which has allowed the club goverened by Quique Pina to quit the relegation zone although both players and coach are only too aware that being guaranteed another season in the top flight will be decided on the final weekend.
Abel has managed to resurrect a side which, under Fabri, rose to the ocassion against the Liga BBVA’s big guns, yet struggled against their direct rivals and as a result, plummeted into the drop zone. One of the first things the new coach did was to tighten up a leaky defence and give more freedom to the squad’s more creative, attacking players such as Jara, Ighalo, Abel and Martins. He has also helped to restore confidence in players like Uche, who hadn’t scored since September but found the net twice in Granada’s 4-1 drubbing of against Real Sociedad. Until last weekend, Granada were the lowest scorers in the Liga BBVA and had not put four goals past any opponent in the top flight since as far back as the 1972/73 season.
The team has rediscovered its football and the atmosphere has lightened considerably. But perhaps the biggest change was noted by one of the team’s star players, Portuguese midfielder, Carlos Martins: “Some things have changed. Before, we played not to lose and now, we play to win”, he explained.
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