Garitano calls out Ontiveros: 'Can't get him to 100 percent'
Cádiz manager publicly questions Ontiveros' commitment and fitness levels as the once-promising attacker's form has collapsed in recent months.
Garitano has reached the end of his tether with Ontiveros, publicly questioning the player’s professionalism as Cádiz’s promotion push continues without their potentially key asset.
From Hero to Zero
Javier Ontiveros arrived at Cádiz with all the fanfare of a potential promotion catalyst, but the Marbella-born attacker has gone from toast of the town to persona non grata in just a few months. The lad was meant to be the dog’s bollocks for the Segunda División side, having torn up the league last season, but his current form has left the gaffer absolutely fuming.
Gaizka Garitano didn’t mince his words when addressing the situation, making it crystal clear that Ontiveros’ problems stem from a lack of personal commitment rather than just a dip in form.
Fitness Concerns
The main issue appears to be Ontiveros’ physical condition, with Garitano revealing they’ve spent considerable time trying to get the player match-fit without success. For a team with serious promotion ambitions, carrying passengers simply isn’t an option.
The Basque manager was particularly scathing when he suggested that sometimes players themselves should be fronting up to the media to explain their situations, rather than leaving coaches to do the dirty work.
Dressing Room Tensions
This public dressing down points to deeper issues behind the scenes at Nuevo Mirandilla:
- The manager explicitly distinguished between players who are simply out of form (whom he’ll back “to the death”) and Ontiveros’ situation
- Garitano stressed that Cádiz as a club is ultimately the victim of the player’s attitude
- There’s a clear implication that the dressing room expects more professionalism
What Next?
With Cádiz battling to maintain their position in the promotion hunt, Ontiveros’ future at the club looks increasingly uncertain. Once considered one of the most decisive players in Spain’s second tier, his stock has plummeted dramatically.
The ball is now firmly in Ontiveros’ court. The fans and teammates are waiting to see if he can sort himself out and deliver on his undoubted talent, or if this public calling-out will be the beginning of the end of his Cádiz career.
For a player who could be the difference between promotion and another season in the Segunda, it’s a proper shame to see such talent going to waste. Bit of a liberty if you ask me.