New faces and a dream to realise

CD Tenerife are in the midst of their second consecutive season in the Liga Adelante. Under the orders of Álvaro Cervera, the island team are trying to return to the Spanish topflight and rub elbows with the elite in the Liga BBVA once more.

To do so, the club has plenty of new faces in its squad. A lot of players who want to demonstrate their quality in a team with a history, hunger and, above all, a desire to prove their quality in a competition that is so tight, things can change from one week to the next. However, the support and contribution from the ‘old school’ at the island club through to the newcomers will be essential for the upcoming matches.

The return of midfielder Vitolo is a reflection of the club's policy. A mixture of youth and experience in an effort to return to the glory days of the Heliodoro Rodríguez López. Although they have not had an easy start to this season, with only four points from a possible 15, the adaptation of the newcomers will be fundamental to the team's future.

Newcomers who breed enthusiasm

Unai Albizua, Iker Guarrotxena, Maxi Pérez, and Uli Dávila represent the fresh blood in the squad that Álvaro Cervera has now been managing for a year. The Lezama academy produced the former two, while the others are typically tenacious South American players, who have already made their mark, both in Spanish football and for Tenerife.

One in each section of the pitch. The spinal cord of the team is formed by these players who have already made room for themselves in Cervera's plan. Albizua has started the first five matches with the Canary Island outfit. His performance in defence is one of the keys to the fact that the team has conceded fewer goals than most, even if their position in the table does not reflect the sound defensive work.

Guarrotxena sets the team’s tempo. The Athletic Club academy graduate has quickly left his mark and made his presence felt in both defence and attack. Five matches in the starting line-up and one goal, in the 1-0 victory over CD Mirandés, the only one for the team so far this season, have man him a vital player on the pitch. By his side, players like Cristo Martín, Aitor Sanz, Suso Santana and Vitolo are the playmakers, providing the team with balance and direction.

Latin American goals

The team has perhaps lacked clinical finishing so far in the 2014/15 season. However, the newcomers have not taken long to respond to expectations. Players such as Uli Dávila, who last year scored the goal that sealed promotion to the Liga BBVA for Córdoba CF, and Uruguayans Maxi Pérez and Diego Ifrán are the biggest strikers to come into the fold.

Although only the Mexican has found the net, but the Latin American connection between the three forwards, together with the quality of Aridane Santana, provide a lot of options for the strikeforce, which should convert into results as the matches go by. There is a feeling among the Heliodoro Rodríguez López faithful that the Canary Island derby this weekend would be a good time to start.