FCBARCELONA.CAT

17.06.2007 09:00

Bitter sweet return

Jordi Clos

Their descent confirmed a few weeks ago, Nastic say adios to the first division this Sunday night. Following a wait of 56 years, Nastic found the rigours of top flight football a little too much to handle.

A little more than a year ago, Gimnastic de Tarragona were experiencing a fine season in the second division. All their pre-season hope, however, faded quickly following their disastrous beginning the new campaign. The rest of the season, with an institutional crisis included, has been long and the end result the least wished; relegation.

Bad start

Nastic found step up to top flight football very difficult to adjust to early on; in the first 19 games, they only achieved nine points. Going in to the second half of the season, this was a lot of excess baggage to carry. Luis Cesar, who guided the team to promotion, stepped aside and Paco Flores took over at the helm.

Internal problems

Apart from the change in coach, Nastic have been through three presidents this season. Josep Maria Andreu left his post due to discrepancies with the government. Raul Font took on the role in the intermittency until a few weeks ago when in came Xavier Salvado. This instability at the top, affecting happenings below.

Winter reinforcements

Nastic were one of the few teams which took full advantage of the transfer window in January. During this time, César Navas, José María Calvo, Tobias Grahn and Sebastien Chabaud were brought in, while Abel Buades, Miguel Ángel Llera, Julio César Cáceres and Manolo Martínez were out.

Goodbye to the dream

The changes only managed a slight improvement in fortunes during the second part of the season. However, Paco Flores’ team pulled off some great home results; beating Sevilla and Zaragoza, while sharing the points with Valencia. However, irregular performances and decisive errors at key moments were condemning them to the drop.

Thinking in the future

Nastic lost their battle to stay up against Athletico Madrid (0-2), and then went on to beat Getafe away (0-1). Xavier Salvado is already working towards the team’s next goal of making a swift return to the first division; the club already announcing that sporting director, Josep Sicart, and coach, Paco Flores, will not be having their contracts renewed.

Portillo, the danger

Another on his way after Sunday night’s game is Javier Portillo. The man from Aranjuez, who has notched up 11 goals this season, has announced he will play with Osasuna next season. The player, who learnt his trade at Real Madrid, is keen to end the season on a high with a victory over Barça.