Team Focus: Berizzo Overseeing Bright Start to Life at Celta Vigo

The ‘Zlatanesque’ back-heeled volley scored by Celta Vigo’s Pablo Hernández in his side’s 2-2 La Liga draw at Atlético Madrid on Saturday was perhaps the most unexpected moment of improvisation the Spanish season has seen so far. It was, however, also in keeping with what has been a positive and attractive start to Celta’s campaign under new coach Eduardo Berizzo.

Berizzo was a popular appointment, having been a commanding centre-half at Balaidos between 2001 and 2005. More recently he has been in charge of Argentine club Estudiantes and Chilean outfit O’Higgins, after a three year spell as assistant to his former club coach Marcelo Bielsa with the Chile national team.

The new man has not changed too much, sticking to the technical but aggressive approach favoured by Luis Enrique last season. New players including his former O’Higgins charge Hernández, ex-Rayo centre-forward Joaquín Larrivey and former Barca B left-back Carles Planas have meanwhile been swiftly integrated into the side. 

That plan is working well so far. Celta remain unbeaten so far, having won 1 and drawn 3 of their first four games – and they could easily have eight points had they not thrown away a 2-0 lead at home to Real Sociedad. They have done this playing some really nice stuff - as shown by their short passes per game tally so far of 410 [fourth most in La Liga], 55.6% ball possession [fifth of La Liga teams] and 79.8% pass success [fifth as well]. 

Although Berizzo does not seem quite as tactically idealistic as Bielsa, El Loco's influence is definitely there. Celta have been playing a high-energy pressing game - shown by their 22.8 tackles per game [third in La Liga] and 16.5 fouls [fifth]. They also look to get the ball forward quickly - with an average of 76 long balls per game so far - the third highest total in the division, and 15% of all their passes played.

Hernández and goalkeeper Sergio Álvarez took many of the plaudits after Saturday’s game at the Calderon, but the draw was earned through a real team performance. Atlético had 18 shots to Celta’s 4, but the game was more evenly contested than that suggests. Celta actually edged possession over the 90 minutes [51% to 49%] in what was an intelligent away performance, with the team looking to hold possession for long periods rather than give it away and invite more pressure on their defence. 

With his team 2-1 down at half-time Berizzo made an attacking change in sending on forward Nolito for midfielder Álex López. After his team quickly equalised - through Nolito’s penalty - he removed attacker Hernández and sent on centre-back Sergi Gómez to help deal with Atlético’s power in the air at set-pieces. However, despite the draw away at the defending champions, the albiceleste coach would not admit afterwards to being happy with how the game had gone.

“I am leaving satisfied with the result,” Berizzo understatedly told his post-match press conference. “But not so much with the performance we put in. I will stick with the maturity the team showed to get the point we were looking for.”

Overall there was a more pragmatic approach than in Celta’s previous three outings - when the team had attacked more directly. The stand-out contributor in those games was bang in-form right-winger Fabián Orellana. Orellana’s overall rating after the season’s first four games is an impressive 8.14 - the third highest of any player so far [behind just Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo]. The Chilean has scored three goals already, while making 2.8 key passes per game [third of all La Liga players so far], 3.0 dribbles [fifth of all players] and topping the entire league for successful crosses with 3.3 per game. 

Such statistics are even more startling given that Orellana, now 28, has never shown such consistent form at the top level before. Coming into this season he had scored just seven Primera Division goals in total over 88 appearances for Xerez, Granada and Celta. The Santiago de Chile born player has 26 international caps - scoring just two goals - but was an unused member of his country’s squad at last summer’s World Cup. Apparently nicknamed El Poeta (the poet), the skinny winger was admired for his skill and creativity but not so much relied upon to deliver when required.

That has changed this year under the guidance of Berizzo, who Orellana knows from their time together with the Chilean national team. And now the good times for the pair - and for Celta fans in general - could well continue on Tuesday night at Balaidos. 

Deportivo la Coruña are the visitors for the first Galician derby of the campaign, arriving 14th in the early season table and reeling from Saturday’s record 8-2 home shellacking by Real Madrid. Given how Celta have begun the season, Depor should prepare to be hit by another storm.

How do you rate Celta's start to the season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below