Pragmatic Calero plotting Levante's path to safety - LaLiga Expert

Levante clinched the Segunda Division title with a 1-0 win over SD Eibar at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia on the final day of last season, having sealed promotion a week earlier at Burgos. 2024/25 had been one of the most exciting promotion races the Segunda Division had seen in a long time, such was the close running in the final few matchdays, but a run of four straight victories to end the season meant Julian Calero’s side finished top of the pile.

It was considered quite a significant step up for Calero when he came into the role at Levante in June 2024. The then 53-year-old had just steered Cartagena to safety at the end of the previous season, having joined them just over 12 months earlier from Burgos.

During stints at both clubs he developed a respectable reputation for being able to coach his teams well in terms of being hard to break down and score against, but the question marks that followed him to Levante were all about whether he could take on the challenge and build a team that not only defended well, but also scored enough goals to fire up the standings.

By the time the 2024/25 season drew to a close, his Levante side had scored 69 times on their way to the Segunda title, with only Almeria outscoring them. Conversely, that defensive robustness that had become a trademark of Calero’s teams also carried through as Levante only conceded 42 goals in their 42 Segunda matches – the joint fourth-best defensive record in the division alongside Real Oviedo, with just Elche (34), Mirandes (40) and Eibar (41) conceding fewer. Not only this, but the team only lost one game at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia during the course of the campaign.

Key to the promotion back to the Primera was the firepower of ‘El Comandante’ Jose Luis Morales, and winger Roger Brugue, who both notched up 11 goals in the Segunda Division, as well as Ivan Romero who scored nine. There was also a notable contribution from Carlos Alvarez who scored seven and created 11 goals from midfield – only Racing Santander’s Andres Martin provided more assists (18) in the Spanish second tier.

Going into the new season, there are several key changes to the squad that Calero will need to adapt to. Defensive midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili, who scored six goals and created four more last term, has been sold to Sporting Lisbon for a notable €5.5m this summer.

The 25-year-old Georgian’s departure does appear to have been addressed with the arrival of 27-year-old Honduran Kervin Arriaga from Partizan Belgrade and 24-year-old Basque midfielder Jon Ander Olasagasti from Real Sociedad, both joining for reported fees of €500,000. Meanwhile, last season’s first-choice goalkeeper Andres Fernandez, who played all but one league game last term has joined Almeria on a free transfer, and, at the time of writing, a suitable replacement has yet to be recruited.

There have also been a number of loan signings ahead of the new top-flight campaign. Left-back Manu Sanchez has joined on loan with an option to buy from Celta Vigo, while forward Goduine Koyalipou has joined from French side RC Lens (also with an option to buy), although he is unproven at this level. Matias Moreno is another player who has joined on a temporary deal initially; the young Argentine defender comes in from Italian side Fiorentina, while versatile Uruguayan defender Alan Matturo has been loaned from Genoa.

Levante have also recruited right-back Jeremy Toljan on a free transfer after his contract with Sassuolo expired. The 30-year-old has considerably more experience than some of the other new arrivals to the squad, having played for Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, and having won the Scottish league with Celtic, before making over 170 appearances for Sassuolo in Italy. In addition, the defender also represented Germany at youth level and won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics after Die Mannschaft were beaten 6-5 in the final by Brazil on penalties.

Another notable change heading into the new season is the addition of Vicente Iborra to the coaching staff as an assistant to Calero. The former Sevilla, Leicester City and Villarreal midfielder retired at the end of last season having helped Levante achieve promotion in what was his third spell with the Valencia club.

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During pre-season, Calero has opted to play with a back five in most games, a formation that he previously deployed during his stint at Burgos, and whilst pre-season is not always a true indicator of what lies ahead, when coupled with the recruitment this summer, it does suggest that Levante will be approaching the new season with an emphasis on continuing to be a tough team to break down.

Last season’s success was built on defensive organisation and prioritising the ability to control transitions, making effective use of the ball rather than keeping possession, and it was this efficiency that saw Los Granotas pick up results whilst often having the minority of possession across 90 minutes.

To an extent, it would be understandable if Calero is approaching the new season with an almost ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ attitude, in the sense that Levante are expected to have less possession against most of the teams they will face in the Primera. However, a back five – if that is to be the route Calero will actually take – could be a gamble; as the old cliche goes, goals win you games and you need to win games to stay up.

Counter-attacking play with efficient use of the ball and robust defending is a pragmatic approach to life in the top flight, and Calero has shown in his previous roles that he is indeed a pragmatic coach.

Levante kick off their campaign by travelling to Mendizorroza for the opening game to take on a Deportivo Alaves side that finished a difficult season in 15th – surviving relegation by two points. They then host FC Barcelona at the Estadi Cuitat de Valencia on matchday two, before making the trip to Elche on matchday three.

It’ll be crucial for Levante’s hopes that they get off to the right start, particularly against Alaves and Elche; two teams that are likely to be rivals in the survival race this term.

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