Jones El-Abdellaoui: 'Balaídos Breakthrough Means Everything To Me'
The Celta forward opens up after scoring his first league goal at home as the Galicians finally end their seven-month Liga winless streak at Balaídos.
Celta Vigo have finally broken their home hoodoo with a crucial victory against Athletic Club, ending a barren seven-month spell without a league win at Balaídos.
Home Sweet Home… At Last!
Talk about waiting for a bus, eh? After more than half a year without giving the home crowd something to cheer about in La Liga, Celta finally delivered the goods against a tough Athletic side. The victory clearly meant the world to Jones El-Abdellaoui, who bagged his first league goal at Balaídos in the process.
“It means everything to me,” the forward admitted after the match, clearly buzzing from breaking his home duck. The lad’s been grafting away for that moment, and you could see what it meant to him when it finally arrived.
A Proper Team Effort
El-Abdellaoui was quick to share the plaudits, acknowledging he “couldn’t do it without this incredible team” - proper team player, that. It was his second goal of the season overall, but getting off the mark at home clearly held special significance.
The victory wasn’t just crucial for El-Abdellaoui’s personal milestone - it represented something much bigger for the entire club:
- First league win at Balaídos in over seven months
- A massive confidence boost for squad and supporters alike
- Proof that their hard work is finally paying dividends
Mingueza: Relief All Round
Óscar Mingueza echoed the sentiment of relief floating around Vigo, noting how the situation had flipped from last season’s pattern:
“It’s a bit of relief for everyone,” explained the defender. “For the fans, for the team. Last year we won everything at home and nothing away - now it seems we’re winning everything away and nothing at home.”
The former Barcelona man felt the victory was thoroughly deserved, suggesting it had been coming for some time. He praised the team for maintaining their identity and commitment throughout their challenging home run.
Looking Ahead
No time to rest on their laurels though, is there? The Galicians now turn their attention to the final competitive week of the year, with away trips to:
- Albacete in the Copa del Rey
- Oviedo in La Liga
With their home monkey finally off their back, Celta will be hoping to finish 2024 with a proper Christmas cracker of a run. If El-Abdellaoui can keep finding the onion bag, they might just do it, too.