Although the incorporations of Ferro and Cutrone had been sounding during the previous days, with Christian Oliva the same did not happen. By surprise, the negotiations with the Uruguayan midfielder were uncovered and on Monday he was already landing in Valencia. After the departure of Kondogbia, Javi Gracia has not been able to enjoy a defensive midfielder as such. In fact, he did not label Racic as “defensive.” The Serbian was, rather, a patch. The new panorama is different with Oliva coming to vindicate himself and win a place at Valencia CF in the remaining 17 days of LaLiga Santander. His past in Nacional and Cagliari suggest how he can adapt to Javi Gracia’s schemes. Since TheUnmark Valencia We analyze the four tactical variants that ‘Totò’ Olvida can offer the Navarrese coach.
The continuity variant
In this first option, Oliva would be Soler’s companion in the midfield to the detriment of Racic. Gracia would draw his traditional 1-4-4-2 or 1-4-2-3-1 and the Uruguayan would be the team anchor, while the Spanish would play more liberated. This scheme is the one that made him stand out in Nacional and sign for Cagliari. Surely, it is the most predictable if it ends up snatching the pivot position from the Serbian.
Christian Oliva in el Cagliari (Photo: Instagram).
The defensive variant
With a drawing of a 1-4-3-3 or 1-4-2-3-1, Oliva and Racic would be the squires de los ché and Soler the player who, with greater freedom, would move ahead of them. This option would give Valencia CF much more defensive consistency and Racic more freedom to go ahead and test from mid-range.
The brave variant
Similar to the previous one, but with a change: Wass for Racic. The midfield would go from having two defensive pivots to having only one: Oliva. The Uruguayan would pivot ahead of the defense and Wass and Soler would create the game. This is an option similar to the one used by teams like Sevilla FC (Fernando, Jordán and Rakitic), Real Madrid (Casemiro, Kroos and Modrid) or Granada CF (Gonalons, Luis Milla and Yangel Herrera). It cannot be ruled out for matches in which Valencia CF needs a bonus in attack.
The variant of the past
This is the least likely, but the possibility can always appear. In a 1-4-4-2. Oliva and Racic would form in the double pivot and Soler would return to the band right that he already occupied with all the previous coaches.
Christian Oliva during a match.
