Following his side’s 3-1 defeat to Real Zaragoza on Saturday night, Osasuna Coach Jose Luis Mendilibar declared: “My team cannot compete in La Primera at the moment.” He had a point. After one draw and four losses so far, his team are clearly struggling. In fact, it is their worst start in the top-flight since the 1993-94 season, when they were relegated after finishing bottom of the table.
It is an ominous sign for the Pamplona outfit who for many were expected to challenge for a European place this season after only narrowly missing out last term. However, a relegation battle looks more likely at this juncture.
One of reasons behind their dismal start to the campaign can be laid down to their lack of ability in front of goal. They have managed just three goals in their five matches played and on the road – where they have traditionally struggled – they have notched just one while shipping seven at the back.
The return of Raul Garcia to Atletico Madrid is certainly being felt in Navarra. The local boy who rose up through the club’s youth academy came back last season on loan to play a key part in the team’s push for Europe. He claimed a total of 11 goals to be the highest scoring midfielder in the League behind Rayo Vallecano’s Michu, whilst he also provided eight assists, more than Barcelona’s Xavi and one less than Andres Iniesta. Not only is the club ruing the loss of Garcia, but, also that of striker Ibrahima Balde, who has now moved on to Russia.
But, it has not been all doom and gloom for the Pamplonans. “The first two matches were not bad,” insisted Mendilibar two weeks ago. And, it would be hard to disagree. They may have left Deportivo empty-handed in the opening round, but their performance that day did not suggest that they would go on to struggle nearly as much as they have done. Their showing against Barcelona in the next round was even more encouraging. They went up through new signing Joseba Llorente and were it not for Barca’s equaliser – which had a strong hint of offside about it – they perhaps would have claimed at least a point and they would have deserved it.
Yet, it has been all downhill since, much to the ire of their Coach. After that inspired display against the Catalans, Osasuna then lost to newly-promoted Celta Vigo. The defeat left Mendibilar furious. “Today, we played for 15 minutes and the rest belonged to Celta….we were a shadow of ourselves from the 15th minute onwards. Often at times we were running around like headless chickens, as a group we did not function,” he fumed.
There was some reprieve the next week against Mallorca when they came away with a point. Though, their lack of fire power was again highlighted as they dominated proceedings and registered 13 more attempts on goal compared to their visitors, yet still could not make it count.
It was the same story on Saturday night. Real Zaragoza ended their five-year hoodoo against their regional rivals as they recorded a fine 3-1 victory. But, were it not for some wasteful finishing, particularly from Nino in the last 15 minutes, Los Rojillos would not have travelled home with nothing to show, again.
The departure of key personnel is clearly affecting this side. Some plain bad luck has played its part too while the suspension of captain Francisco Punal has not helped matters either. The veteran midfielder remains very much the heart and soul of the side despite his 36 years. Sent off against Barcelona, his remonstrations with the referee earned him – perhaps a little harshly – a four-match ban.
In the matches since Punal’s dismissal, perhaps not coincidentally Osasuna’s displays have lacked mettle, which has seen them labelled in some quarters as ‘blandiblu’, a reference to a soft slimy goo that children play with. This has not gone unnoticed by Mendilibar himself, who said following his side’s defeat on Saturday night: “I have noticed very little personality.”
At this stage, the prospect of dropping down a tier after 12 years at the top is very real. Should they be relegated, it would be a great shame. This is, after all, a modest team that has achieved great things in recent times. They reached the 2006-07 Europa League semi-finals, the 2004-05 Copa del Rey Final and finished fourth in the 2005-06 season which earned them Champions League qualification. It has easily been the club’s greatest period in its history. Relegation would mark its definitive end.
There is still a long way to go, however, as noted by defender Damia Abella who insisted recently: “It is too early to speak of the end.” Indeed, it may be, but as his Coach opined: “We cannot continue like this.” Yet again he had a point. They cannot.
