Levante - End of year review

The last 8 months, since Saviano joined Levante, have been a roller coaster ride for the Valencian team and their supporters. The promotion, achieved as underdog through the play-off, generated an euphoric state, that led to a wonderful pre-season (4 wins and 1 draw, against really good teams) and great expectations.

"I really believed that we could struggle for a play-off spot- said Saviano.- But after 5 matches it was clear that our goal must have been to survive in Div 4."



To make things worse and worse, the team went under Transfer Ban for an incredible mistake:" After Rossi turned 22, we needed a GK for the Youth Cup. I didn't see anything interesting on the market, so I took the first available on loan. I didn't imagine that loans in count for the squad limit, and I still think that it is an unfair rule."

After half a season, Levante was 19th with 15 points. "In that moment I realized that was unuseful to have old players in the team, if they aren't decisive."

So, key players for the promotion (Corluka, Sissoko, Nilmar, Gentner) were sold for younger, less rated, players (Fred, Karsdorp, Di Francesco among all). Surprisingly, the results bettered, also thanks to a new scheme, 4-2-3-1.

Because of the terrible first half of the season, the team wasn't able to be safe before the last match. "It has been a Champions League final for us and our opponents, Matt Morris with his Basel, with the Division 4 as prize for both of us. But the guys managed to reach our objective."

After 30 points in the second haf of the season, is there a risk to have again great expectations for next season? "Our supporters want to reach Valencia's level. Looking at their recent performances, I think that we can do that staying in Div 4 for 2 season, waiting them to be relegated twice."

What's the plan for next season? "We will try to make the team younger, but we can't continue to lose rating.: players like Jallet and Diarra will stay, unless we get huge offers, which I don't expect. Everybody know that we need a left back, but i trust Alonso and Lima, if nobody arrive they will fight to start every week."


TRANSFER BALANCE

Transfer out
M.SISSOKO
V.CORLUKA
S.PRÖDL
P.VERHAEGH
A.ARBILLA
C.DANIELS
H.NILMAR
O.NIASSÉ
M.LE MARCHAND
H.HWANG
D.BESSA
F.KLAUS
S.MITROVIC
F.BRADARIC
G.DI CHIARA
P.IEMMELLO
M.MIAZGA
D.AVDIJAJ
R.PEÑA
S.TETTEH
C.ADAMS
G.RUGGIERO
L.PELLEGRINI
M.CARRARO
M.CEROFOLINI
J.BEDEAU

Transfers in
G.MARCELO
S.FRED
R.DIEGO
R.KARSDORP
G.RAMÍREZ
V.VÁZQUEZ
C.BEAUVUE
J.SÁNCHEZ
J.BOËTIUS
J.ALONSO
L.LIMA
P.FARAGÒ
A.TAARABT
F.DI FRANCESCO
J.LARSEN
A.AJETI
B.CHILWELL
M.WESLEY
S.SIMIC
K.EHIZIBUE
L.AGBENYENU
T.MARCÃO
N.DALMONTE
A.DE SART
Z.YOUSSOUF
S.AMALLAH
A.DABO


P.S. Happy New Year!