season

The month of June is a time of rest for some, but a lot of work for others. The season has ended and La Real will leave for the summer with the satisfaction of having achieved most of its goals with a note on the one hand, but also the duty and demand to prepare the team for the big challenge that coming from August: the arrival of the Champions League in Anoeta.

“There are no doubts that have arisen and they will not arise,” he said. imanol at the last press conference of an honors course. No need to nail the test, no mistakes. La Real is well ahead of its rivals for fourth place and dreams of more, finishing closer to the champions (17) than staying out of Europe (20).

extreme royal

Having 71 points means many wins and few losses. This sixth version of Oriotarra is the most technical, possibly one of the most vertical when the attacking players are in tune, but also the one with the most control over defeats to improve the defense. The 4-4-2 in the rhombus that ended last year evolved to fall in love in the second half of 2022. The realists added 39 points in the first round, which helped them to be third. It has no presence of Sadiq, Oyarzabal and Barrenetxea, among others. But then came the downturn.

Despite the insistence of imanol Since the team did not worsen its game or the way it competed throughout the course, the fact indicates that it happened in the negative fall of 2023. It all started after a titanic effort at Camp Nou, although it came from before. The team fell apart physically, injuries piled up and Real added seven of the 21 points, as well as losing to Roma. The team reacted in time, luckily.

The final rush is vital to ensure a Champions League thirst for Villarreal’s return. But Imanol “grabbed it well”. He recovered the squad, reverted to 4-3-3 and the team reinvented itself to get 20 of the last 27 points, with a single loss, and a sweet one, proving a dream season with a prize worthy. . We are Champions League.