On Monday night, Rayo Vallecano released a statement announcing that they had sacked Ruben Baraja from his post as first team manager. In a worryingly short statement, the club thanked Baraja for his professionalism and wished him the best in the future.
Michel, the best option
Ruben Baraja came out for his press conference after a home loss to Mirandes and while he accepted responsibility, he also said that “not everything is a management issue” as the club continues to struggle off the field. A demonstration before the game on Sunday by the fans was an effort to get the owner out of the club as they see him unfit to continue to direct Rayo Vallecano.
It is Baraja, however, who has lived his last moments at the club with Michel poised to take over and become the third manager Rayo Vallecano have had this season. The other options to replace Baraja have been named as Luis Miguel Ramis, who is currently coaching at Real Madrid Castilla and Abel Resino, who most recently managed Granada in 2015.
Poor performance
Baraja earned just 13 points from a possible 39 points since taking over from Jose Ramon Sandoval in November. He gathered three wins, five losses and five draws with the latest loss at home to a side who had not won away from home all season might be the last straw as Rayo contemplate sacking the 41-year-old. He managed the same number of games as Sandoval and had two less points after 13 games as the former Granada coach.
Baraja said he will try to lift the teams spirits before the Getafe game next weekend but that job will now fall on his replacement for the game on Saturday night.
Rayo sit perilously close to the relegation zone and sit just one point clear of danger after Sunday night’s loss.
Baraja said, “I fight, fight and fight” during his press conference but maybe, as it turns out he was punching above his weight. Or fighting in a competition, or environment, that was never going to let him win.