Celta Vigo or simply Celta, is a Spanish club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in La Liga. It was founded on 23 August 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Football Club. The club's home stadium is the Abanca-Balaídos, which seats 29,000 spectators. Celta's name is derived from the Celts who were once present in the region. Its main rival is fellow Galician club Deportivo de La Coruña, with whom it contests the Galician derby.
Celta have never won the league title nor Copa del Rey, although they have reached the final three times in the latter. One of the team's best seasons was 1970–71, when they finished unbeaten at home and were known as the "giant-killers". Celta came sixth that season and qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time. The club finished in their best-ever position of fourth in 2002–03, qualifying for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, where they were eliminated by Arsenal in the Round of 16. In the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League, Celta reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League for the first time, losing to Manchester United.
The future of Celta Celta returned to La Liga in 2012 after a five-year absence. Since the return they have had great results. Now its time to fulfil the clubs potential.
The club is a mid-table team today, the board expects the same. It should be realistic to push for a Europa League spot. The ultimate goal is to compete for the title and the Champions League title. To get there, we need to restructure the club and build a philosophy.
Youth is the future. We are only signing players under 25 years, so we can build a team for the future. The B squad will only have players under the age of 23. This will be extremely important to our success.
The board has given us a transfer budget of €9.000.000. The wage budget is currently in the red, we have -€13,9k per week. We will spend our cash smart and get the wage budget from red to green. That means we will say goodbye to some high earning players and staff members.
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Goalkeepers We already have a goalkeeper for the future in Rubén Blanco (22), the Spanish GK is our best player at the GK spot. Sergio Alvárez (32) will be our back-up and Iván Villar (20) will be our 3rd choice in goal.
Right back Hugo Mallo (26) is the best player at right back, he has played for the club his whole career. Facundo Roncaglia (31) and Kevin (25) will be placed on the transferlist. I want to bring in a new young RB.
Left Back
At left back we currently have Robert Mazan (24) and David Juncá (24). Both players can grow, but we will most likely bring in a new and better LB.
Central Defenders
The best CD we have is Gustavo Cabral (32), he´s up for sale. Néstor Arujo (26) one of the better CD we have. Junior Alonso (25, on loan), David Costas (23) and Diego Alende (23) are good back-ups. We are covered on this spot, but young players are always welcome.
Defensive Midfielders
Nemanja Radoja (25) is the best option at DM. Okay Yokuslu (24) is a good back-up.
Central Midfielders
Stanislav Lobotka (23) is key to success. Jozabed (27) and Mathias Jensen (22) are good back-ups. Fran Beltrán (19) has great potential and will be getting a lot of chances this season.
Attacking Midfielders
Brais Méndes (21) is currently on a Segunda division level, has great potential.
Right Wingers
Emre Mor (23) is our best RW, fantastic potential. Ibán Salvador (22) is a ok back-up.
Left Wingers
Pione Sisto (23) and Sofiane Boufal (24) will fight for the LW spot. Andrew Hjulsager (23) ok back-up.
Strikers
Former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas (30) have had some great seasons since returning to Spain, is currently at his peak. Maximiliano Gómez (21) is almost as good as Aspas, he is the future. Dennis Eckert (21) and Manu Appeh (20) are still young, but doesn’t have very god potential.
Staff Changes
I decided to sack the whole coaching staff and the director of football, just to spend less money on wages. I brought in a coaching staff with very little coaching experience, but at least some of the new staff members have international caps.
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Assistant manager – John Arne Riise (Norway)
Head of Youth Development – Niklas Nyland (Norway)
Goalkeeping Coach – Lars Hirschfeld (Canada)
Goalkeeping Coach – David Relano (Spain)
Fitness Coach – Børre Stenslid (Norway)
Fitness Coach – Nicolas Dyon (France)
Coach – Damien Duff (Ireland)
Coach – Júlio César (Brazil)
Director of Football – Tor-Kristian Karlsen (Norway)
Pre-Season Results July
R.Bouzas – A – 1-1D
Lugo – H – 1-1D
Tours – A – 1-0 L
Nantes – A – 1-1D
Luzenac Ariége Pyrénées – A – 0-6 W
August
Creteil – A – 2-6 W
Everton – H – 2-2 D
Leverkusen – H – 2-1 W
Cordoba – H – 0-0 D
Vandee Herbiers – A – 0-2 W
We start the pre-season very poorly, new tactics and new formations. After a couple of games we are finally getting the goals and the wins. I think we are good enough prepared for the season.
Tactics I want to play attacking and entertaining football. At the same time we are going to play with a lot of possession and take control of the games.
Our main style is a control possession style of football. With a 4-2-3-1 Wide formation.
Our second formation is a tiki-taka style with a 4-1-4-1 Wide formation.
Our third option is a vertical tiki-taka style with a 4-1-4-1 Wide formation.
All of the three styles are very similar. The players have responded very well to all of the styles. And the most important thing, we are scoring a lot of goals and have few goals against. The three formations are being used at the B team and U19s.
Transfers In
Rafinha – From Barcelona – Loan
John Brooks – Fro Wolsburg - €14.5M
Yussuf Poulsen – From RB Leipzig – €9.5M
Rafinha was a no brainer. Fit perfect in to the team. Cheap deal as well. Brooks is an 25 year old American central defender who has played I Germany his whole career. Very good defender and still young. Will be our main man at the CD spot. We needed to bring in another striker, Poulsen will be a supersub.
Out
Facundo Roncaglia – To Fenerbahce - €4.4M (€5.5M)
Gustavo Cabral – To Ajax - €3.9M (€4.9)
Kevin – To Tenerife – Loan
Robert Costa – To Reus – Loan
Iago Aspas – To Man City - €40M
Alex Serrano – To Alcorcon - Loan
Man City triggered Aspas release clause, I think €40 million is a very good price for him. I tried to sign a new contract with Aspas, but he wanted to play for a bigger club. We also sold two of our best and oldest defenders, I’m happy to sell them.
Line Up (4-2-3-1): Blanco – Mallo – Costas – Araujo – Juncá – Lobotka – Radjoa (off 76th minute - Beltrán in) – Mor – Rafinha – Sisto – Gómez (off 87th minute - Eckert in)
Player of the Match: Lobotka (1 goal, 8.4 rating)
Managers diary: Almost a perfect start to the season, in the end we win our opening game. We are dominating the game. Not to happy with the Getafe goal.
League table
Position – Team – Played - Points
1) – Real Madrid – 6 – 19
2) – Valencia – 6 – 16
3) – Barcelona – 6 – 15
4) – Real betis – 6 – 12 5) – Celta Vigo – 6 – 12
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Maximilliano Gómez has pledged his future to the cub by signing a new 5-year contract. His new contract has a minimum fee release clause on €150 million.
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Managers Diary
We win the games I expected us to win. Against the two Madrid teams I feel that we deserved a point in each game, but I guess quality beats youth.
We´re playing very good football, creating chances, having a lot of possession and controlling games. Gómez signed a new contract, I think he will be a key player this season.
League Table
Position – Team – Played – Points
1) – Real Madrid – 9 – 27
2) – Barcelona – 9 – 24
3) – Atletico Madrid – 9 – 19
4) Celta Vigo – 9 – 19
5) – Athletic Bilbao – 9 – 17
6) – Valencia – 9 – 17
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18) – Huesca – 9 – 7
19) – Villareal – 9 – 7
20) – Getafe – 9 – 2
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Managers Diary:
First month unbeaten, 5 games unbeaten for the moment. Very happy with our performance this month, we deserve the points. Next month is going to be a though one, 3 of 4 games away.
Leauge Table
Position – Team – Played – Points
1) – Real Madrid – 12 – 36
2) – Barcelona – 12 – 30 3) – Celta Vigo – 12 – 29
4) – Atletico Madrid – 12 – 28
5) – Valencia – 12 – 24
6) – Athletic Bilbao – 12 – 23
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18) – Real Sociedad – 12 – 8
19) – Getafe – 12 – 8
20) – Huesca – 12 - 7
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Managers diary
WHAT A MONTH! 3 very though away games, and we got 7 points from the 3 games. The Barcelona game was insane, best game of the season so far. I extended my contract with 2 years right after the Barcelona game.
Alaves – A – 1-2W – La liga
Goals Alaves: Guidetti (90+1)
Goals Celta Vigo: Gómez x2 (31, 62)
Real Betis – H – 2-1W – La liga
Goals Celta Vigo: Sisto (32), Boufal (66)
Goals Real Betis: Sanabria (38)
Rayo Vallecano – A – 1-0L– La Liga
Goals Rayo Vallecano: Amat (71)
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League Table
Position – Team – Played – Points
1) – Real Madrid – 15 – 42
2) – Barcelona – 16 – 42
3) – Atletico Madrid – 16 – 40 4) – Celta Vigo – 16 – 35
5) – Valencia – 16 – 30
6) – Atlethic Bilbao – 16 – 29
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18) – Real Sociedad – 16 – 11
19) – Huesca – 16 – 11
20) – Getafe – 16 – 9
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Manager’s diary
We end the first half of the season with a loss. Our season so far has been really good. Sisto and Gómez has been on fire. Hopefully we can qualify for the Champions League, I very confident that we at least qualify for the Europa League.