Features
VIE 26.09.2014
96 days ago destiny dealt UD Las Palmas a cruel blow the Estadio de Gran Canaria. The Island team lost the chance of winning promotion to the Liga BBVA after letting in a last-minute goal in the promotion playoff final against Córdoba CF. Now, with the new season underway, the team is making exceptional progress and one of the newcomers has played a significant role in their success, his name is Sergio Araujo.
The Argentinian quietly arrived at the Island club on loan from CA Boca Juniors, to embark on his second spell in the Liga Adelante after serving in the ranks of FC Barcelona B in 2012/13. His quality and explosiveness quickly made him a new favourite among the fans on Gran Canaria, who have been longing for promotion to the Spanish topflight for more than a decade.
Experience in the dugout
While last season Josico, the new coach, almost took the club back to the Liga BBVA, this season the Yellows are placing their faith in the experience and respect commanded by Paco Herrera. Las Palmas’ new helmsman has spent 20 years working in the dugouts.
The objective is clear: to win promotion to the Liga BBVA. It is a feat that the manager from Barcelona already has on his CV, as he took RC Celta de Vigo to the elite of Spanish football just three seasons ago, leading the Galician team to second place behind their nemesis, RC Deportivo de La Coruña.
His quality and explosiveness quickly made him a new favourite among the fans on Gran Canaria, who have been longing for promotion to the Spanish topflight for more than a decade.
To take on this new challenge, the coach has a squad of contrasts, nuances and, above all, bags of quality. Juan Carlos Valerón, with his experience, continues to be one of the squad’s leading figures. The ‘Wizard of Arguineguín' is flanked in the midfield by Nauzet Alemán and Momo, both of whom were on the pitch for that fateful playoff game three months ago against Córdoba. When all three of them grace the pitch, a team that has its sights set high plays its best football.
Newcomers stamping their authority
Sergio Araujo, who has made the best goal-scoring start to a season of any player at Las Palmas (seven goals in five matches), is joined by David Simón. A graduate of the Canary Island club’s youth academy, the right-back of Paco Herrera’s team was playing for the reserves just a few months ago. Now, early in the season, he has become a shoo-in for the first eleven and played all five matches, contributing in both defence and attack from his flank.
To take on this new challenge, the coach has a squad of contrasts, nuances and, above all, bags of quality.
Another academy player with Canary Island blood running through his veins is Roque Mesa. After 37 matches with the Gran Canaria club’s reserves last year, this season he has become a regular member of Paco Herrera’s team. Two starts so far this year and a total of 187 minutes on the pitch make him one of the future hopefuls for a club that dreams of rubbing elbows with the elite.
The season is long, but Paco Herrera’s work so far can be seen in the club’s foundations. They have complete confidence that the manager from Barcelona has what it takes to exorcise the ghosts of the past and make a return to the best league in the world, the Liga BBVA.
© LALIGA - 2014