Ángel Recio and Alfonso Herrero have emerged as the untouchable pillars of Málaga CF during a difficult start to the season. The central defender and the goalkeeper are the only players to have started and played every single minute of the first seven LaLiga EA Sports matches, a statistic that shows manager Juanfran Funes's absolute trust in them.
The Andalusian side is in a precarious position, sitting bottom of the table with just three points from seven games. The latest setback was a 1-0 defeat at Getafe on 20 September, extending Málaga's winless run to five matches. The schedule does not let up, with the next fixture at home to Espanyol on 9 October, a key encounter to try and climb off the foot of the table.
The team's backbone
The constant presence of Recio and Herrero contrasts with instability in other areas of the pitch and a lengthy injury list. Fernando Calero, Diego Murillo and Álex Pastor, among others, have yet to make their debuts this season due to fitness issues. This situation has forced Funes, the coach from Loja, to find solutions and rotate in other positions.
Behind the two ever-presents, the players with the most minutes are Larrubia with 574, and Chupe and Rafita with 563 and 562 respectively. They are followed by Einar Galilea and Carlos Dotor, both with four starts and around 470 minutes each. The inconsistency in line-ups is a key factor in the poor collective performance, which has yielded just three goals scored while conceding twelve.
The value of academy and experience
Ángel Recio, a product of the club's youth system, embodies commitment to the entity in a time of crisis. His leadership from the back is vital for a team that has taken just one point from the last fifteen available. Alfonso Herrero, meanwhile, has been constantly busy between the posts under opposition pressure, witnessing goals like Pape Gueye's double for Villarreal and Iván Azón's winner for Getafe.
The squad is desperately searching for a turning point. The focus now shifts to preparation for the clash with Espanyol, where Málaga will aim to end a run of two consecutive defeats and secure their first victory of the campaign.
Background and full detail: Sport.es
