Marbella consummated its descent to the fourth category of football. You no longer have options to access the third category (Second Pro) and must play a playout so as not to go down another step, to the fifth category, Third Division. The club will have to fight to avoid adding a worse word to the word ‘failure’: ‘catastrophe’.
It will not be easy at all. Marbella will play in one of the five subgroups of eight teams where the points from the previous phase count. The last four of each of them will descend and the third classified with the fewest points.
How is it possible that a formidable project designed to be promoted to Second has collapsed in this way to the point of going from ‘Liverpool on the Costa del Sol’ to declined? There are several aspects that we must analyze.
New stadium. At this point it is very important to emphasize that this project is not going to stop. It is a plan for the city because it is a multipurpose stadium with capacity for 18,000 spectators with 2,000 parking spaces, a commercial and hotel area. There will be no problems there.
The pandemic. When the competition stopped last year due to the pandemic, Marbella was second in the standings and had only lost two games in a year and a half. The team, which was going like a rocket, stopped its projection. The worst thing was because of the fans, who had become hooked on the team. It is not unreasonable to assure that without this coronavirus epidemic, Marbella would now be in Second.
Defeat against Peña Deportiva. For the above reason, the team, then trained by David Cubillo, left without rhythm and was easy prey for the Ibizan team, which started as a victim. This defeat did a lot of damage.
Template configuration. Marbella changed the coach, David Cubillo for José Manuel Aira, and the sports director, Marcos López for Víctor Moreno. The squad was renewed and the 'hard core' changed. Emblematic players such as Wilfred, Saúl González, ‘the scorer defender’, Dani Pérez, Lolo Pavón, Samu Delgado, Elías Pérez, Juergen and Yaimil Medina came out. 13 footballers arrived who, in theory, improved the squad. But it was not like that.
Babá Cisse's injury. The French midfielder and central defender was one of the most projected signings. But before starting the championship, he broke his cruciate ligament and said goodbye to the season. Marbella could not sign a replacement.
Covid and more injuries. At the first exchange, Alfonso Herrero and Óscar García were quarantined for coronavirus. In addition, the injuries continued to punish. Carlos Cordero, an excellent center back, was also seriously injured. Footballers such as Rafa Tresaco or Edu Ramos, among others, also fell along the Kurdish.
The Tamaraceite party. It marked a negative turning point. Marbella won 0-1. Things went wrong when Alfres Planas was sent off and the Canarian team came back and won 3-1. From this moment on things were worse.
The stars made no difference. Much more was expected of Esteban Granero, Juanmi Callejón and Edu Ramos, captains general. Disappointing performance of other pedigree players such as Alfred Planas, Nacho Sánchez, Quezada, Ezequiel Busquets, Carlos Blanco or Gudiño. Alarming drop in the level of Carlos Redru, an excellent left-back and lack of goal. Manel Martínez (who went to Atlético Baleares), Oscar García and Rafa Chumbi have not been sure of a goal. Bolivian Ferddy Roca was not seen. The goalkeeper, Alfonso Herrero, of the little salvageable.
Jose Manuel Aira. Why hasn't the coach been laid off? His work was highly valued at the club, serious and conscientious, not reciprocated with results. Aira tweaked the system several times until reaching the current one with three centrals and two lanes. The reality is that Marbella has only been able to beat two teams, Marino and Recreativo.
The penalty missed by Javier Añon. The team's best set piece specialist. But Sergi Puig, goalkeeper of Las Palmas Atlético, stopped him a maximum punishment with five minutes to go to finish a game that meant the swan song ..
What will happen? Best of You, the team's management company, is not going to jump ship despite this setback. However, and counting that the team does not finish in Third, it is evident that the club will have to adapt to its new reality one step lower. The current budget (around three million euros) will have to be readjusted. The important thing is that the club, despite this setback, resist and try to get back on track.