The results support Pablo
Machin. In less than four months, it has managed to lay the main foundations of its project in Alavés. After a difficult start, the results support the symbiosis between the coach and his pupils. The team accumulates five rounds without losing and, although it continues close to the descent – to three points – in a very compressed table, it gives the feeling that it progresses adequately in each match.
In this first third of the season, the coach has known how to adapt to his pupils and they, convinced by his work ethic, have responded with work, collective spirit and a very good capacity to absorb his precepts. The style book has permeated the dressing room, which has aligned itself with the new coach. Aware that “the effort is non-negotiable”, as one of the premises of the Soriano indicates, each one tries to squeeze himself to the fullest when he has the opportunity.
With this implication, Alavés has known how to cover their defects and exploit their qualities. With the passing of the matches, he has recovered two of his virtues -discipline and defensive solidity-, while he has been improving his game and offensive efficiency.
Thanks to this, he has significantly reduced the number of goals conceded. In the last five days he has received five -1 per game-, a much better record than the average 2 that Betis, Granada and Villarreal endorsed him in the first three league games. Right now, it is the eleventh team with the best in the ranking of the percentage of goals against per game, with 1.18 on average. A figure that, if he maintains his current defensive level, will improve.
Old virtues
Just like they did Asier
Garitano, until the pandemic blew up their good work, and Abelard, Pablo
Machin you are giving your team a clear personality. In four months, Alavés has already managed to know what they are playing at. After the bad dynamics caused by Covid-19 and everything that surrounded the team, it has recovered several of the qualities that have kept it in the First Division in the previous four seasons.
With its own variants and brushstrokes, Machin He has recovered the essence of El Glorious. Thus, supported by a solid defense, the counterattack knowing that he is hurting his rivals with his rocky and vertical game is once again very dangerous. All this watered with several phases of good football -second parts against Athletic and Valladolid or first against Valencia-.
In his last appearance against Real Madrid, he developed perhaps his most complete game, alternating a brilliant first half hour with phases in which he knew how to suffer on defense and with moments in which he exhibited a very dangerous counterattack.
Evolution
While the footballers have been adding to the philosophy of the Soriano, he has also adapted to the characteristics of his squad. During the preseason, he already saw how his pupils did not finish assimilating his preferred system, 1-3-5-2. For this reason, already in the second half of the second league match in Granada, he began to use a defensive line of four.
Seeing that the team feels more comfortable and that it gains in solidity behind, Pablo
Machin He has decided to use it as a basis for his different approaches. Thus, he has used different approaches, such as mixed systems with a four-back line when the team defends and three defenders when attacking. He has also opted for a 1-4-4-2 as a starting system or, at specific moments, such as against Barcelona, he has opted to use a single point and raise his number of midfielders to five.
The figures are clear and reflect the clear progression of an Alavés that grows in each game. He has already accumulated five days without losing in which he has added four points. Neither Barcelona (1-1) nor Real Madrid (1-2) have been able to defeat him.
However, the Machin he is in charge of keeping his feet on the ground and “not looking beyond the next game”. He knows that he will have to “fight a lot” to ensure permanence. “When we do, the ranking will tell us where we are,” he says. Meanwhile, the loyal Babazorro fans, who still cannot enjoy Mendizorrotza, are excited again.