Against Leganés, in a duel with water around the neck, alvaro cervera He played 21 games in charge of the Oviedo bench. In other words, one turn. He celebrated it with a victory: three points that can be exchanged for a lifeguard in such a competitive final. In a hypothetical classification of 21 dates, Oviedo would be tenth, after eight wins, five draws and eight losses, a balance that would have been signed after Bolo’s departure. With offensive problems, only 15 goals in favor, but with armor when he has to defend: 16 goals against. Oviedo de Cervera, there is no doubt about it, is a team that grows from the defense.
He was seen again in Leganés. The game seemed to progress at low speeds from the referee’s first whistle and that is something that has come in handy this season for the Blues. Leganés had a couple of chances in the first act, especially a header against the post, but the feeling was that Oviedo was not at all uncomfortable on the pitch.
That idea grew in the second act. Partly because the team seemed unusually comfortable on the ball; partly because he hardly suffered behind. The second half is a good summary of the group that Cervera wants to chisel. Oviedo was hard, granite, well planted on the grass and without trembling behind. Braat lived 45 more than peaceful minutes. The coach had already warned: salvation is reached from behind.
Defensive master by definition, Cervera has tried since his arrival to apply the style book that he imposes on his works as the most direct path to salvation. This Oviedo is not the Cádiz that the coach blew up. He has many differences in the template configuration. But there are precepts that Cervera tries to instill similar to those of that time.
And the truth is that the numbers endorse the analysis of the coach, who has never hesitated when it comes to highlighting the defects that his pupils show with the ball. It is not for him, however, a central problem. He believes that traffic jams can be overcome with more doses of defense.
The 15 goals conceded in 21 games with the Cantabrian represent an average of 0.7 goals per game. A number of those who fight for the play-off. In fact, there are only three teams in the Second Division that have defended more efficiently in the same period: Eibar have only received twelve goals, Granada 13 and Levante 14. The three that surpass him would be the first three classified in this hypothetical classification.
So, at least at this point, there are no doubts about what the coach is looking for. It is evident that the game can be improved and that the team has problems, and big ones, when he is forced to expose, either because the result is adverse or because the rival hands him control. And the poor scoring ability continues to draw attention and that mark on the way to the record of failing to score two goals in the same game.
But the coach is aware that if he wants to avoid the precipice, the straightest path is to defend as solidly as possible. Having things clear with just ten days to go is an obvious advantage in the race to avoid tragedy.