Two wins in four games, plus the end of last season, have Luis García Plaza's Alavés going like a cucumber . After a season in which they have changed 11 players, making them perform as they have at the start of the season is something very meritorious. As a reward, what we have mentioned , 7 points out of 12 and a sixth position that can predict a good season for the babazorro team.
However, the blue and white team now have some difficult times ahead : in the next five games, two are against Real Madrid and Barcelona and they are aware that they must count on everyone. The player who has stood out the most in this regard is Toni Martínez, the former Porto striker who has fallen on his feet in Álava and has already scored two goals in two games. However, he knows that a season is long and he must keep as many players as possible plugged in.
Santiago Mouriño and Manu Sánchez are the future
During the interview, MARCA's colleagues asked him for a one-by-one assessment of the new signings, with the twelfth to arrive in the winter market still to come. He emphasises that most of them are youngsters who Alavés must promote and that he has a clear philosophy.
"We are looking for the profile of young people, who are very hungry and want to continue growing. You analyse those who have come out of here and they have all gone to top teams. Gorosabel to Athletic, Rafa Marín to Napoli, Samu to Porto, Giuliano to Atleti, Javi López to Real, Rioja to Valencia."
That is why when it comes to Santiago Mouriño and Manu Sánchez's turn to be assessed, the Madrid coach highlights the following: "Mouriño is youth and future , something that is repeated in our signings." Regarding the full-back, he said the following: "This boy is eager to have a good year after a difficult season at Celta."
Hopes for Carlos Martin
Regarding the Atlético de Madrid B star, the coach was full of praise for the youngster. Not without first pointing out a curious situation that has been occurring in recent years with the 'Liga Fantasy / Biwenger / Comunio'. The Alavés coach mentions, laughing, how people criticise him for taking a player off or putting him in depending on whether that person has him on his team.
A madness that could happen when the youth player starts getting minutes with the Alavés first team. Regarding the new signing of Carlos Martín, Luis García says: "He is a player who will give us versatility, goalscoring and has a great future ahead of him."
I can't think of many better teams where a youth player can develop his game better than Alavés. A team that takes care of the young players, that is very aware of the second division and that aspires to grow year after year. All this under the command of a coach who knows where he is , knows the limitations of his team and enhances its virtues like few others.