Huesca came up as second division champions last year, but they struggled with the step up. Under coach Michel, they started the season trying to play possession-based and expansive football and it simply didn’t work against better quality opposition.
After 18 matches, Huesca made a change and fired Michel. In came Pacheta and he was much more practical, opting for a three centre-backs system that provided some defensive security and that played to the attacking strengths of full-backs Pablo Maffeo and Javi Galan. Striker Rafa Mir improved under Pacheta too.
Ultimately, though, it wasn’t enough and Huesca were relegated on the final day. This isn’t a massive failure considering they were a newly promoted side, but questions do have to be asked considering they were champions last year and the two sides they were promoted alongside both achieved survival.
There were some good individual performances over the course of the season, especially from the full-backs and from Mir, but Huesca lacked firepower in attack.
As they go down a division, they’ll hope to keep the spine of the squad together and achieve a bounce-back promotion, which is what they did last time. It at least looks like Pacheta could stay and that is a good start.
