First match of 2021, as friendly as it may be, it was expected that Emelec would show ambition with its new reinforcements and the time that Spanish coach Ismael Rescalvo has, but they had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Técnico Universitario in the Explosión Azul, where their squad was presented for this season. The match was played at the George Capwell stadium without spectators due to the health restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Carlos Torres Garcés, champion as a player (1979) and coach (1994) of El Bombillo, and Patricio Cornejo, Caravana radio commentator, consulted by EL UNIVERSO, analyzed the performance of the electric squad and agreed that Coach Rescalvo must make corrections in his approach to avoid another failure like in 2020.
"In almost two years, we haven't seen anything similar in Emelec to what it was with Rescalvo in Independiente. For this season, it is expected that with the time that Coach Rescalvo has (20 months) and the reinforcements that have arrived, a powerful and attractive game will be shown at an individual and collective level, as it has historically been. Rescalvo was brought in for his good work at Independiente and it was expected that at Emelec he could revive that elegant style that the team had, which was called the Blue Ballet, but nothing," said Torres Garcés, 69 years old.
"What worries me is that players like Joao Rojas or Alexis Zapata cannot show more than they have shown. Rojas, when you think he will be extraordinary, we don't see it, and the same with Zapata, he doesn't show it; in any case, this year they must justify their presence in Emelec. We will also have to ask them if they feel comfortable in the position they are playing, now they are moving on the sides as wingers, perhaps the coach should analyze if it is better for both of them to move behind the forwards and let others assume the role of going down the wings. The coach must bring out the best at an individual level and then collective, he must position his players in the position where they feel best, it is not about inventing, it is about being consistent so that the team performs better," continued El Palillo.
He also highlighted: "There are coaches and coaches. Some only need great players to stand out and others know how to get the best out of the squad they have, so that's what is needed in Ecuadorian football and Emelec. There are good players but coaches don't know how to bring out their best football virtues. Let's remember that Emelec fans are very complicated, they quickly go from love to hate, fortunately there are no spectators in the stadiums to impose pressure and players don't have to go through that filter. It is easier to perform well."
About the reinforcements, Torres Garcés said: "So far, no one has a profile close to the historic players who passed through Emelec, which is one of the most important teams in the history of Ecuadorian football. I don't know what Rescalvo is playing, if he does it with a classic defensive midfielder or with a double defensive midfielder. Sebastián Rodríguez is a player who is being misused, in my opinion, because he can play much further up the field, but it has to do with the team's performance."
Cornejo, with over 35 years of experience as a sports analyst, commented: "If there is patience, Emelec can eventually show the good game that their coaching staff and board of directors want, but if there isn't, it will end up being a disaster. Last night I saw on social media that they were hard on Joao Rojas, but there are others who are not doing well either. Técnico Universitario was very defensive yesterday, few attacks, and this complicated things for Emelec."
And about the performance of the reinforcements, the Caravana radio commentator stated: "The remarkable ones were Luca Sosa and Ángel Gracia, how they searched for the ball and came out with it, however, there are many doubts in the rest of the squad, but with time until the start of the tournament, it can improve. I saw Jefferson Orejuela out of place because he played directly as a defensive midfielder, in the position where Dixon Arroyo was; little by little, he started to loosen up, without being anything extraordinary. The match was boring, but it is expected to improve."
"If another forward arrives, like El Cuco Angulo, the key for him to perform and score goals will be the progress of players like Rojas, Zapata, and Cevallos. We already know how determining Cevallos can be when he is in good condition, but the others must improve to support in the production of play and assistance to the forwards." (D)