Hidalgo taps up new boy Riki for inside knowledge on Albacete
Deportivo manager Antonio Hidalgo admits using January signing Riki Rodríguez as his 'inside man' ahead of crucial Segunda División clash with Albacete at Riazor.
Deportivo boss looking to gain the upper hand through his winter signing’s intel on former club.
Spying on the opposition
Deportivo La Coruña manager Antonio Hidalgo isn’t too proud to use a bit of inside knowledge when it comes to preparing for this weekend’s clash with Albacete. The gaffer has admitted to picking the brains of his January signing Riki Rodríguez, who only recently made the switch from - you guessed it - Albacete.
“Riki knows Albacete much better than I do because he was inside the club,” Hidalgo confessed, essentially revealing he’s got his very own mole in the camp. Proper detective work, innit?
A different beast
Hidalgo’s concerns about facing Albacete aren’t unfounded. The boss reckons they’re a completely different proposition compared to when Depor faced them earlier in the season:
- More solid defensively - four matches nearly without conceding
- Changed their tactical system since the reverse fixture
- Strong on the counter-attack (“a very strong transition”)
- Boosted confidence after recent results
“It’s going to be a tight match where goals will likely be hard to come by,” Hidalgo predicted, suggesting we’re in for a proper chess match at Riazor.
Riki’s role
While Riki might be playing double agent this week, Hidalgo has big plans for the midfielder beyond his intelligence services. The boss sees the Asturian operating as either a six or an eight in his system, though he’s urged fans to be patient.
“He’s a proven player in this division who has grown tremendously, especially at Albacete, having a major role both in football terms and personally in terms of leadership,” Hidalgo explained.
The gaffer also believes Riki’s arrival will allow him to deploy Mario Soriano “at a higher position” on the pitch, giving Deportivo more variety in midfield.
However, Hidalgo cautioned that his new signing has experienced “excessive stress” in recent weeks - presumably related to the transfer - so might need time to settle before showing his best form in the famous blue and white stripes.
One thing’s certain - if Depor get one over on Albacete this weekend, they’ll know exactly who to thank for the inside info.