Relegated with a trashing

Saturday afternoon in La Liga saw Córdoba finally relegated back to the segunda. Victims of an 8-0 trashing at home to Barcelona was a pretty sorry way to have their fate sealed. As it turns out it wasn't really a shock relegation as Córdoba have been bottom and winless since January. They are onto their third coach of the season and called upon so many players this season. In fact only a handful have played more than 25 games this season, they are goalkeeper Juan Carlos, winger Fede Cartabia, midfielder Borja García and top scorer Nabil Ghilas.

Córdoba were always going to face a tough season. They barely made the play-offs after finishing 7th and when they did win the play-offs in dramatic circumstances it was June 22nd, only two months before the Primera división was back. Such a short time to get a squad together capable of staying in the division was going to be tough. Manager Albert Ferrer had bought in Mike Havenaar, Patrick Ekeng, Deivid and Inigo López and signed many on loan including Fede Cartabia, Nabil Ghilas and Fede Vico. 

A tough start with a trip to the Bernabéu ended in defeat. It would be matchday 14 when they would pick up their first victory, by which time Albert Ferrer was gone and replaced by former Valencia and Valladolid boss Miroslav Djukic. Djukic did manage to get Córdoba off the bottom and out of the bottom three with victories over Granada and Rayo Vallecano. However that victory over Rayo was to be the last time they were victorious as a slump in form saw them return to the bottom of the table and they haven't moved since. More players were signed on loan with Bébé, René Krhin, Edimar and Bruno Zuculini. 

José Antonio Romero took over after Djukic was sacked and in his first game Córdoba took the lead, slumped to defeat and had three sent-off against Real Sociedad. However the real killer in their hopes to stay up was the concession of a late equiliser at Riazór against a frustrated Deportivo side. Córdoba had taken the lead through Romanian Florian Andone and were 1-0 up until the final three minutes when Andone put through his own net and two precious points plus a moral boosting win slipped away. A win would've been massive in that game especially since Depor themselves were battling to stay up. Also they faced another relegation battler in Elche three days later so the potential to go on a run of form was there. 

However that late goal knocked the stuffing out of the team. They went on to start impressively against Elche but clinical finishing from their opponents ended in a 2-0 defeat and an angry Nuevo Arcángel stadium. A surprise 0-0 draw away to Villarreal followed thanks to goalkeeper Juan Carlos, who was the subject of many boos from Córdoba fans in that Elche defeat. It was a point that made little difference and the Andalucian's then lost three on the bounce with the third being the 8-0 thumping that sealed their fate. 

Where Córdoba go from here? well they have three more games this season in which they could use to bring some cantera players in. With the majority of the squad on loan there will be many, many new faces at the club next season. Even some of the players contracted to the club might be looking for a way out. Plus you have the managerial situation, will Romero be given the reins next season? and if not who?. It's difficult to see Córdoba bouncing straight back up given the competitive mature of the 2nd tier in the past few seasons and the expected overhaul of the squad.