Es el ejemplo de lo que un equipo de fútbol puede cambiar de una temporada a otra. No hablamos del Barcelona de Flick, hacemos referencia a lo que ha sucedido alrededor del Al Ittihad en la presente temporada y que le ha llevado a conquistar la Liga saudí derrotando a equipos que se presumía iban a ser los que mandaran en un campeonato que volverá a marcar la pauta de los fichajes en el próximo verano. El todopoderoso Al Hilal o el Al Nassr de Cristiano Ronaldo han doblado la rodilla ante el equipo dirigido por Laurent Blanc, diseñado a la perfección por Ramon Planes, y que ha tenido un líder capaz de arrastrar a todos como Karim Benzema.
MARCA ha seguido al ahora campeón desde la pretemporada en Benidorm, más tarde con visitas a Jeddah y en los últimos días observando como el equipo se sobreponía a todo tipo de adversidades en forma de lesiones y dudas ante lo que venía por detrás, pero el espíritu competitivo de un futbolista que lo había ganado todo en su etapa en el Real Madrid y que durante la presente temporada ha encontrado el ambiente propicio en el club saudí, han llevado al Al Ittihad a lograr un título que pueden ser dos si conquista la Copa ante el Al Qadshia de Michel, Nacho y compañía.
Ramon Planes llegó a la dirección deportiva del equipo en enero de 2024, sin tiempo para que los cambios se pudieran notar en la pasada campaña. Marcelo Gallardo (llegó antes que el ex del Barcelona, Getafe, Betis, Rayo o Espanyol entre otros) no acertó con la tecla y la primera misión era encontrar un entrenador que supiera entender lo que había en el equipo, es decir, el peso y la influencia de Karim Benzema. Si el francés sonreía eso era una buena noticia y lo hace desde que arrancó la campaña.
Karim Benzema y Ramón Planes en la celebración del título de Liga
Y lo cierto es que Laurent Blanc lo ha sabido hacer a la perfección, apoyado en una estructura ‘made in Spain’ creada por el director deportivo del club.
Poco a poco la estructura alrededor del primer equipo fue creando el ambiente propicio. Edificio propio para jugadores y cuerpo técnico dentro de la ciudad deportiva, confianza de los propietarios, fichajes que han respondido desde el primer momento como Auar, Bergwijn, Ratkovic … que supieron sumar y arrastrar a lo que ya había.
El último y necesario toque llegó de la mano de una apuesta de Planes. Hablamos de Unai Hernández, jugador al que se le discutía la oportunidad en el Barcelona y que la ha tenido en Al Ittihad, siendo decisivo en la parte final de la temporada. Se discutió su llegada por aquello de su juventud, pero como ha sucedido con Gabri Veiga y su recién conquistada Champions asiática, el éxito ha llegado de la mano de su aterrizaje en el fútbol saudí.
La identificación, el sacrificio, los cambios y el hacer bien las cosas por parte del club saudí desde el inicio de la temporada, han llevado Al Attihad a la conquista de su décimo título de Liga.
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