What about Orlando Sá? It is a question that many of the people who follow the day to day of Malaga ask themselves. The Portuguese striker He arrived at La Rosaleda this summer as one of the players called to lead this new project marked by economic austerity. After a long period of inactivity due to a major Achilles tendon injury, Sá saw Malaga as the perfect opportunity to try to regain his level in a very demanding championship such as the Spanish Second Division.
The striker did not hide from the first day that after so long without competing, he would need a somewhat greater margin than the rest of his teammates to reach an optimal physical state. Pellicer has repeatedly highlighted his commitment and involvement in the dressing room. The technician's last defense of the striker was this Saturday, in the run-up to the visit to Ponferrada: “He is the player with the most experience in the group and is an example. He will play a leading role, he will help us and he will be the protagonist , I do not have doubts”.
But nevertheless, Orlando Sá left Toralín without playing a single minute, a situation that has been repeated in the last three games. Málaga's '9' has barely played 136 minutes so far this season spread over six games. His role within the team has been decreasing by leaps and bounds in recent days. In fact, He has not participated in six of the last eight league stakes (two he missed due to injury) and in the two he has played, against Sporting and Mallorca, he has only played four minutes in each.
Matos, a debatable performance
José Joaquín Matos is another of the Málaga players who are currently in the eye of the hurricane. The season started at a good level, but your performance has decreased considerably. To the point that Pellicer used Iván Calero with a changed leg on the left wing in Sabadell ahead of the left-handed side. The loss of Ismael Casas due to muscular discomfort opened the doors of ownership to Matos in Ponferrada. And the blue and white did not have his best match. He lacked success in attack and defensively he was excessively soft in the Ponferradina goal. Curro Sánchez won the game against the Malaguista side and scored the 1-1 that prevented Pellicer's team from adding another victory away from home.