Real Sociedad has been from the back of their most successful period since the 1980s, qualified for Europe for five years in a row, wins the Copa del Rey and brings it back in the Champions League two years ago for the first time. But last year things came back to earth under Imanol Alguacil, the impetus for a change in the guard in the Reale Arena.
The result is that the Txuri-Urdin, after ending outside the European places for the first time since 2019, now have to deal with a crucial season. Just like Baccarat playing online for free, there is a certain aspect of speculation to accumulate, but also a risk to endanger the health in the long term of the institution.
If LA miss Europe again this season, it could very much strengthen their place under the middle package of La Liga, and although the lack of Europa League money can be treated for one season, whereby their budget in a different echelon is missed two years in a row. Not to mention the in terms of image – which was a blip, then becomes reality.
The spine of the team was also considerably eroded in the last two summers. Mikel Oyarzabal and Alex Remiro will continue to exist and represent two important leaders within the start XI who have been around for some time the core of their success. The outputs of Robin Le Normand last summer and Mikel Merino felt felt hard. This year the move from Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal, after Alguacil and sports director Roberto Olabe, also gave credibility to the idea that a new team was coming along the line.
The Japanese star Takefusa Kubo is perhaps the biggest brand name that stays with the club, and this summer he openly questioned the lack of signing sessions. Manager Sergio Francisco played those comments and noted that he was happy with what he had. A second consecutive signing of the loan to replace Le Normand (first Nayef Aguerd and then Du Caleta-Car) and the addition of Goncalo Guedes have not yet completely saturated the appetite for recruits in Gipuzkoa.
Their success was based on the ability to add a touch of quality to a large number of strong academy talent. The will of Jon GorrotXategi and Benat Turrientes are strong candidates to replace Zubimendi, but it is not a side that compares Rivals Villarreal, Real Betis or Athletic Club in terms of attacking firepower. Francisco's ability to get the most out of his team can be decisive to determine the course for the coming seasons.