Southampton fans know from experience how a change in the dugout can have a transformative effect on a team’s fortunes.
The Saints were circling the plughole when Ralph Hasenhuttl replaced Mark Hughes at St Mary’s in late 2018. Two years on and that same side is fifth in the Premier League and, only a few weeks ago, sat at the peak of English football for the first time since 1988.
Now, we aren’t suggesting Celta Vigo will do the same in La Liga any time soon but there’s certainly an air of optimism hanging above the Balaidos once more.
Former Brighton and Hove Albion coach Oscar Garcia had Celta fans fearing relegation.
But, under new coach Eduardo Coudet, the Sky Blues look exciting, confident and, most importantly, far better than the teams around them in the bottom half of the La Liga table.
Friday’s 2-0 victory at an underperforming Athletic Bilbao felt significant – and not just because it lifted Celta into the vertigo-inducing heights of 16th.
Long-serving skipper Hugo Mallo opened the scoring at the San Mames – his first goal in more than two years and 61 games.
The rampaging right-back appeared to have one foot out the door under Garcia, his astonishing 21-year association with Celta destined to end in controversy amid interest from Southampton (El Desmarque).
“Yes, the club told me (Mallo) wanted to leave if an offer for him came,” Garcia told Sports Finding recently.
“With an academy graduate like Hugo, we would do the best for him,” added president Carlos Mourino (El Desmarque).
“If he wanted to leave, we wouldn’t stand in his way. If players can progress (by leaving Celta), go ahead.”
Mallo was stripped of the captaincy against Elche in November but one of Coudet’s first acts since taking charge a few weeks ago has been to give the 29-year-old the armband back.
Mallo, it seems, will celebrate his 22nd anniversary as a Celta Vigo player after all.
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