After two weeks of El Nacional's relegation to Serie B
The first statement of the leadership headed by Lucía Vallecilla has arrived.
With a post on their social media, the leadership of the team spoke about "difficult days," but also about "better times" that will come for the team.
"We have faced a series of adversity and problems that cannot be solved in just a few months," states the document signed by the board of the capital team.
"We will turn this adversity into an opportunity to once again demonstrate the character and pedigree of our team, rethinking priorities and accepting the challenge of returning to the rightful place," the statement continues, highlighting that the club's history in Ecuadorian soccer "cannot be overshadowed by a season in which things did not go as we wanted, despite our efforts."
In the communication, the leadership announces that they will seek a return to the top-tier league in 2021, "making use of our prolific young players," and calls for the "commitment" of the players, active participation from members, and emphasizes "the determined efforts of the leadership."
Official statement pic.twitter.com/N4V76gfWiO
— Club Deportivo El Nacional (@elnacionalec) January 3, 2021
In the 2020 season of LigaPro, the team finished last in the overall standings with 26 out of 90 possible points, had the least productive offense in the tournament with 15 goals in 30 games, and had one of the worst defenses, conceding 48 goals.
A deficient performance on the field was compounded by player and coaching staff departures, with five different coaches leading the team throughout the recently concluded season.
In 2020, El Nacional suffered relegation once again, having previously been relegated in 2018, only to receive an "invitation" from LigaPro to complete the number of teams in Serie A, which increased to 16 squads for that season.
With thirteen titles, El Nacional is the third club with the most championships won in Ecuadorian football, but after a fourteen-year drought and with military and civilian administrations that failed to revive the club. This year, they will compete in Serie B after 41 years, a relegation that occurred in 1979 after winning the first of the two consecutive championships that mark the history of the team, a milestone that has not been repeated in Ecuadorian soccer. (D)