Can Carvalhal’s classy Celta push for Europe?
Celta are possibly the most improved side in LaLiga since the World Cup, now looking up the table rather than down.
‘Europe’ has not been a word in the Vigo vernacular for a number of years, falling away to dialogue of ‘safety’, ‘survival’ and ‘relegation’. For too long Celta squads packed with quality have underperformed and lacked consistency. Coaches have come and gone, initially providing a bounce before slipping back into the pattern of mediocrity. Staying up has been the revised goal season on season, while the likes of Real Sociedad, Betis and Villarreal have all made strides forward.
But the mood at Celta feels a little different this time. Since the arrival of Carlos Carvalhal they have been markedly better in all aspects, and the results are following these trends. Since the World Cup they have only lost twice in LaLiga – away to Mallorca and at home to Atlético Madrid, a game in which the visitors suffered, smashed and grabbed the three points late in the piece.
Apart from those narrow reversals, they have earned five wins and four draws, including wins away at Betis and a draw at La Real. The pulsating 4-3 win at the Benito Villamarín was the only game in which they conceded more than one goal since the post-Qatar resumption.
A methodical coach, Carvalhal has built this with solid foundations. Prior to his arrival, Celta were a leaky ship to say the least. Under Chacho Coudet, they conceded four at home to Real Madrid, three away to Atleti, three at Mestalla, four away to Real Valladolid (yes, really) and three at Almería which proved to be the final nail in Coudet’s coffin. In the first 12 games of the season the Galician side has shipped 24 goals, two per game. Under Carvalhal they have conceded just ten in 13, 0.77 per game, a hugely significant shift in the right direction.
Gabri Veiga has rightfully been the recipient of praise and rave reviews, bringing the verve and vivaciousness back to Vigo. Top European clubs are following closely and he will inevitably get called up by Luis de la Fuente later this month. It was somewhat ironic, therefore, that in their latest comprehensive win, it was Iago Aspas who reminded everyone he was still the main man.
In a brilliant second-half display, El Mago de Moaña was involved in everything going forward, scoring twice and creating two further chances. His first was a controlled finish across the goal and allowed him to reach double figures in the league for the eighth consecutive season. Only six others have managed to score this consistently over that length of time in the last 30 years. Moreover, with all due respect to Celta, many of those played for clubs at the very top of the ladder.
His second was exquisite, showcasing his best attributes: speed of thought, anticipation, cuteness and clinical finishing. Balaídos was bouncing, the team making visible improvements to match the stadium developments behind the goal.
Over the last seven Matchdays, Celta have taken 14 points from a possible 21. Extrapolated over a season, their points tally would be a healthy 76, or in other words Champions League qualification pace. No one is saying that just yet but the race for Europe is tight and the table concertinaed further with this win over Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna’s loss at Mestalla. Celta are now just four points behind Rayo in 7th place.
It is six years since their last European campaign, when they made it all the way to the Europa League semi-finals, edged out by eventual champions Manchester United. There is a lot of football still to be played this season, but Celta are playing it as well as anyone and are building momentum for a late push. A return to continental competition could be within reach, and the Celta fans are allowing themselves to dream.