Ángel Pérez making his mark on Alavés' right flank
The young Spanish winger impressed in his longest appearance yet for Alavés, offering directness and flair that could soon earn him a starting berth.
A promising new talent is emerging down the right for Alavés, with Ángel Pérez beginning to show exactly why the Basque club brought him in during January.
Seizing his chance at the Sánchez Pizjuán
Third time’s a charm, as they say. After just 21 minutes of action across his first two appearances for Alavés, Pérez finally got a proper run-out against Sevilla – and he didn’t half make the most of it.
Coudet threw the youngster into the mix at halftime as part of a triple substitution, with Alavés struggling to make an impact in the first 45. The gaffer clearly wasn’t best pleased with what he’d seen and decided to roll the dice, bringing on Pérez along with Pablo Ibáñez and Guevara to change the complexion of the match.
Replacing Calebe on the right wing, the former Huesca man brought an entirely different dimension to Alavés’ play. While Calebe is more of a technical, combination player, Pérez offered something that had been missing – proper directness and the ability to take his man on down that flank.
The Carlos Vicente succession plan
The Zaragoza-born winger was sporting director Sergio Fernández’s chosen replacement for Carlos Vicente, and despite his youth and lack of top-flight experience, there’s genuine belief within the club that he’s not just one for the future – he can make an impact right now.
Like any new signing, he’s needed a bit of time to find his feet, but his performance in Seville suggests he’s adapting quickly to life in the Primera División. The boy’s showing proper bottle, as we say in the smoke.
Pushing for a starting spot
Calebe hasn’t quite stepped up since Carlos Vicente’s departure, leaving the right wing position somewhat up for grabs. With Pérez now demonstrating he can provide greater penetration and directness, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him break into the starting XI sooner rather than later.
Coudet now has an interesting tactical option at his disposal. When the Argentine wants to prioritize control, he might stick with Calebe, but when Alavés need to be more direct and threatening, Pérez could be his Adam and Eve (believe).
The coming weeks will reveal whether the youngster has done enough to convince Coudet, but based on what we’ve seen so far, Ángel Pérez might just be the answer to Alavés’ prayers on that right flank.