Two Argentine coaches, Eduardo Coudet Y Jorge Almiron, and a handful of South American footballers will live this Friday a vital duel for the permanence for Celtic from Vigo and Elche, two clubs that in recent times have crossed the pond to solve their economic hardships.
Carlos Mouriño, a returned emigrant who made his fortune in Mexico with a business empire, and Argentine agent Christian Bragarnik, nicknamed “the owner of the ball” in his country due to the control he exercises over numerous coaches and players, are the main shareholders of both teams through two of their companies, Grupo GES and Score Club 2019, respectively.
The Celtic is tenth in the standings with 26 points, eight more than Elche, which is still in free fall and has already chained fifteen LaLiga matches without winning, which has placed Jorge Almirón in the spotlight despite the fact that Bragarnik In addition to being its president, he is also its representative.
The largest shareholder of the Elche has a good relationship with the Celta leaders, in which he placed Eduardo last November Coudet, the coach who has changed the face of a team that has gone from being bottom to brushing the European positions.
The celestial coach has sought to surround himself with footballers of his confidence in this winter market. His compatriots Augusto Solari, whom he knows from his time in Racing, and Facundo Ferreyra, which debuted with a goal against Atlético. He lacked the icing on Franco Cervi (Benfica), for which Felipe Miñambres fought until the last day of the market.
It is a case similar to what your agent tried to do in Elche. Bragarnik has “South Americanized” the franjiverde team: of its seventeen signings to face the return to First Division, more than half -10- have arrived from the other side of the pond: seven Argentines and 3 Colombians, not counting the members of the coaching staff who Almirón leads.
The clash this Friday is a final for permanence, especially for an Elche that needs to cut in Bullets his worrying streak. Celta have yet to win in 2021, but they have just scored against Atlético de Madrid in the Metropolitano.
Coudet will give continuity to the block that put Simeone's men on the ropes, although it could touch up a piece to give more muscle to the center of the field with the entry of Solari by Nolito, especially since a very fast and heavy grass is expected due to the strong rains.
The rest of the team will remain the same, with the pair formed by the Mexican Néstor Araujo and the Colombian Jeison murillo in the center of the defensive axis, and the Peruvian international Renato Tapia as the only midfielder ahead.
Jorge's team Almiron, penultimate, faces the duel of Balaídos in a critical situation, although last day's tie against Villarreal, in which Elche managed to equal a 0-2 against, has given some hope to the group, which is confident that that encounter marks a turning point in the championship.
Elche recovers its captain and defensive axis, Gonzalo Verdu, to the side Antonio Barragán and to the inside Tete Morente, absent last day due to federative sanction, while Fidel Chaves and Juan Francisco Martínez ‘Nino’ will miss the game due to injury.
The last signing of the team, the Colombian full-back Helibelton Palacios, will also be part of the expedition, waiting for him to legalize his card in the next few hours, although Almirón has not yet seen him to be a starter.
The main unknown is to know if the coach, given his team's need for points, will bet on his two pure forwards, Guido Carrillo and Lucas Boyé. The coach was satisfied with the performance of the Argentines, who each scored a goal last day, so everything indicates that they will repeat at the start.
Celtic: Rubén Blanco; Hugo Mallo, Araujo, Murillo, Aarón Martín; Wall; Brais Méndez, Denis Suárez, Nolito or Solari; Santi Mina and Aspas.
Elche: Edgar Badía; Barragán, Gonzalo Verdú, Diego González, Mojica; Josan, Marcone, Guti, Rigoni, Carrillo and Lucas Boyé.
Referee: From Burgos Bengoetxea (C. Vasco)
Stadium: Balaídos
Hour: 20.00