Hidalgo's Rollercoaster Ride: Depor Boss Facing Second Crisis
Deportivo La Coruña manager Antonio Hidalgo is weathering his second major storm of the season after three straight defeats have derailed their promotion push.
Hidalgo’s Rollercoaster Ride: Depor Boss Facing Second Crisis
Antonio Hidalgo finds himself in choppy waters again at Deportivo La Coruña, with the Galician side suffering their worst run of the season just weeks after briefly topping the Segunda División table.
From Heroes to Zeroes
It’s been a proper game of two halves for Hidalgo since taking the Depor hot seat. Earlier this season, he navigated through his first crisis—a five-match winless streak—by shuffling his pack and finding winning combinations that sparked an impressive five-game winning run. That purple patch even saw the Blanquiazules climb to the summit of Spain’s second tier for three matchdays.
But football’s a funny old game, innit? Since their defeat in Andorra, Depor have lost three on the bounce, shipping seven goals while scoring just once. For a squad that’s widely considered among the strongest in the division, these numbers are about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Selection Headaches
What’s got the Riazor faithful scratching their heads is Hidalgo’s team selection. Several players who were absolutely crucial during their winning streak have been warming the bench:
- Patiño has barely had a sniff
- Mulattieri’s minutes have dried up
- Gragera can’t get a look-in
- Even Mella lost his spot to Luismi Cruz in their most recent outing
The gaffer seems to be having a right mare with his team selection. Despite having top-drawer talent at his disposal, Hidalgo can’t seem to find the right combination to get his team firing again.
January Reinforcements Coming
The Galician outfit isn’t sitting on their Hampstead Heath, though. The club is planning to strengthen in the January window, with sporting director Fernando Soriano already working on potential deals.
Word on the street is that Depor are close to securing both a right-back and a wing-back to bolster their defensive options. At the same time, they’re weighing up the possibility of sending some underperforming players out on loan to free up space in the squad.
For Hidalgo, the January window can’t come soon enough. His managerial merry-go-round needs stabilizing before Depor’s promotion hopes take a proper battering.