Timeline of declared decline
Granada has completed its departure. The recession, which had been coming for months and weeks, was already virtual. It was a matter of time, and before the game with Real Madrid this was confirmed by the victory of Mallorca. A difficult year, full of key moments that led to the Rojiblancos’ return to the Second Division just a year after their return. We tell you the chronology of the announced decline.
- No sale: After the success of not only promoting the first team, but also treble promotion within the club with the arrival of the women’s team in Liga F and the reserve team in Primera RFEF, Granada was paralyzed. The failure to sell the club to US group MountainStar Sports Group has halted all possible operations since promotion as second division champions and slowed an already difficult market. The club always said that everything continued to work the same, but over time it turned out that there was a break. Buyer Andres Fassi confirmed his offer to DDMC to acquire Granada. Libero’s operation, which is still unresolved, and some other problems prevented the sale, but sporting director Nico Rodriguez has less time to work.
- Fertilizer controversy: At the beginning of July, Granada presented its campaign for season ticket holders in Primera. It is worth remembering that last season the company promised to maintain prices in the event of a promotion, thanks to which red and white season tickets became the cheapest in their category. However, controversy arose when the club announced that there would be two matches where fans would have to go through the ticket office: the visits of Real Madrid and Barcelona. In addition, during the year it was reported that there were no Cup matches in sight in the offices due to relegation, and there was also no presentation match in Los Carmenes as usual. The first controversy in which fans showed their anger.
- Late market: The club’s failure to sell meant the Granada market began after Paco Lopez’s side began pre-season training. In fact, coach Silli started without new faces and with 24 players, many of whom did not count for the coach. It was not until July 15 that the first signing of Jesus Vallejo was announced (pre-season training began a week earlier). The next new face did not appear until the 27th of the same month: Gumbau. A delay that ended with just six new faces, players in the squad the manager didn’t want and shortcomings in many lines, such as the defence.
- Samu’s case: First horror of the season. The young gem of the youth academy (18 years old) was a great signing for the Nasrid attack. A physical marvel with a promising future who was the leader of the reserve team. Without too many resources in attack (Paco did not have Famara or Weissman), the coach gave him an alternative in the top category against Atlético at the Metropolitano. A magnificent performance from Melilla, including a goal that put him in first place because the Nasrids gave him his debut in the top category with a clause of only six million. Three days later, Atlético paid this amount and took the player, who could not return to Granada even on loan. Another setback for sports management and especially for Paco, who lost one of his big bets to return to the First Division. Disputes were inevitable. The player said he alerted the club, who knew nothing until he deposited the item, and no one called them. But the reality is that Granada lost its great pearl for a ridiculous amount. To this it should be added that in April the player accused Granada of an offensive clause.
- Brian’s explosion: The winger, who managed to extend and remain at Granada, showed himself to the world with his brace against Barcelona, which also meant a draw for Granada. That day, a man from Malaga received a call to the national team of Luis de la Fuente. He was the most determined and insightful player on the team, the only one who could win the game on his own. However, a call from the national team and all the noise that arose around him with numerous offers distracted the brilliant striker, who reduced his performance in the following days. In the end, he was transferred to Bayern, but he remained at Granada with the thought that he would finish the season with the red and white, which also did not happen. At the winter market, he packed his bags and headed to Munich. Another important loss for the team of its most destabilizing player. Although by the time he left, a lot had changed in Granada…
Javi ColmeneroEFE
- Nico Rodriguez, scapegoat: With the team relegated and having only one win all season, at the end of October Granada announced the dismissal of Nico Rodriguez, the sporting director with whom promotion had been achieved, and appointed Matteo Tognozzi in his place. The Italian did not have much experience as a sporting director, although he worked as a scout for Juventus for many years. A move in which the former sporting director was blamed for the poor summer transfer market. There was hope to reach the winter market alive and to be able to strengthen the detachment in positions that could not be done in the summer. And after the market closed, Alfredo Garcia Amado assured that there is nothing on the market better than what they have in their composition.
- Incorrect alignment in cup: Before the end of the year there is another organizational disaster. Granada faced Arosa in the Copa del Rey and ended up getting knocked out of office. Paco Lopez, Matteo Tognozzi and the entire Granada sports team did not notice that Adri Lopez was 23 years old and signed a contract with the reserve team, which is unacceptable in the cup tournament. To field third goalkeeper Nasrid, he needed to have a first-team record. The Galician club lodged a complaint after the 3-0 defeat and the Appeal Committee agreed with them, awarding Granada a 3-0 loss and expelling them from the Cup at the first opportunity.
- Paco Lopez fired; Medina, chosen: At the end of November, Granada announced the dismissal of Paco Lopez. A sports streak with only seven points from fourteen matches played and a single victory, plus the feelings of the team, especially after the defeat in Vitoria, led to a separation with Sylla’s coach. Alexander Medina arrived in his place. The Uruguayan played in Spain for Cadiz and Racing de Ferrol, but had no experience as a coach in Europe. An unknown coach on the old continent who also had little success with his teams in South America, coaching Nacional from Uruguay, Talleres and Velez Sarsfield in Argentina and Internacional from Brazil. A change that did not have the desired effect. This is what Paco Lopez made clear in his farewell: “The only goal was to get to the winter market.” He didn’t have time.
- A fan dies, plays out the next day: During the dark year, incredible things happened in Los Carmenes. It was towards the end of the year that Athletic visited the Zaydin Coliseum and minutes into the game the match had to be abandoned because a Nasrid fan suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest. Antonio Trujillo died in the stands of the stadium, despite the fact that he received medical assistance as quickly as possible. The match was interrupted in an atmosphere of sadness. However, Athletic asked to play it the next day and thus avoid another shift. Granada did not mind, which the fans did not like. A few months later, the date of the Granada-Valencia match was changed (it was played a few weeks later) due to fires in the city of Turia. This once again caused controversy: why was the match against Athletic not postponed a few weeks after what happened in Los Carmenes?
Miguel Angel MolinaEFE
- Revolution in the winter market: As expected, Granada assembled an almost new roster in January. Lots of work ahead for Matteo Tognozzi, who brought in ten new faces, including the return of Arezo, and retained eight players. Batalha, Mark Martinez, Bruno Mendes, Piatkowski, Maouassa, Hongla, Jozwiak, Corbeanu and Pellistri, in addition to the Uruguayan, arrived in Medina’s team, while Famara, Perea, Weissman, Manafa, Petrovic, Andre Ferreira, Alvaro Carreras and Brian left the Nasrid discipline.
- Medina also falls: After 14 games, the same ones that were given to Paco Lopez, and with exactly the same numbers (14 points and one victory), Alexandre Medina was sent into retirement in search of an almost impossible response. Nasrid’s side were 13 points away from salvation with nine games ahead and a key clash with Cadiz the next day. Jose Ramon Sandoval, who had already saved the Nasrids in an extreme situation in the 2016–17 season, was chosen to perform the miracle. He was the third coach of the course, which is a sign that things are going very badly.
- Descent completed: All that remained was to make the relegation effective, and this was done before the duel with Real Madrid for Mallorca’s victory over Las Palmas. Despite improving under Sandoval, who recorded two wins and a draw in seven games, the team was doomed. Of course, that final sprint prevented this Granada from becoming the worst Granada in the club’s history in the First Division. The end of a turbulent year full of mistakes, which in just one year returned Granada to second place. Black year.
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