Las Palmas on the brink: one point in five games and 3 from the drop

Las Palmas find themselves just three points from the relegation zone after a run that has yielded one point in the last five games, with defensive fragility standing out as the main problem. The situation has roots further back: the departure of Luis García, who chose not to renew and left for Mallorca, marked the first major turning point of a season that has gone off track earlier than expected.

Crisis on multiple fronts

The summer also brought choices that didn’t translate well to the bench. Rubén de la Barrera’s spell lasted nine matches before he was sacked, and MARCA links the breakup not only to results but also to tensions involving sporting director Luis Helguera and the lack of full buy-in from parts of the squad. Juan Manuel Rodríguez, coach of the B team, was then named interims, despite having been 14 years without managing in Segunda División.

Planning and squad issues

The decline can’t be blamed on the coaching changes alone. The article points to squad planning leaving gaps: Horkas, Amatucci, Estanis, Mika Mármol and Barcia left without adequate replacements. The left-back position is highlighted—Cristian Gutiérrez was loaned out at the end of the window and the club didn’t sign any direct cover.

There’s also institutional wear in the club’s relationship with its surroundings. President Miguel Ángel Ramírez has publicly backed Luis Helguera’s continuation, insisting on several occasions that he had a five-year renewal, and that has fueled frustration. The clearest moment came in the last match vs Castellón: low attendance, chants of “Ramírez, vete ya”, and whistles after the team conceded to make it 0-2 in the 22nd minute. As MARCA stresses, with the margin for error shrinking, Las Palmas need more than a managerial change to protect their place.