Sean Weissman The most expensive acquisition in Valladolid's history is expected to make its debut in the Spanish league today (17:00, Channel ONE) • "Hopefully he will score half of the team's goals last season" declared his coach Sergio Gonzalez, who means no less than 15 goals
Weissman with the new uniform.
Expectations are high
Photo:
Gettyimages
According to Sergio Gonzalez, the coach of Real Valladolid, Sean Weissman's mission in his debut season in the Spanish league is very clear.
"Exiles. I wish he would contribute to us exiles and good movement in the front, but above all exiles."
It's that simple.
One can understand this need for Valladolid.
Last season only two teams scored less than the 32 goals it provided in 38 rounds - Leganes and Espanyol - and both were relegated.
Valladolid do have an excellent defense, probably the best of all the bottom teams, despite an injury to Kiko Olibas and the sale of Muhammad Saliso to Southampton.
But to make another leap forward in the third season of the Premier League, Sergio knows that Weissman's exiles are a necessity.
How many exiles?
"I hope he will conquer half of last year's number," the coach announced.
In a quick calculation, these are no less than 15 goals.
Take some proportions: Luis Suarez scored 16 goals last season, and he was one of only four to score more than 15 that is, Weissman's task is not simple at all, but it also helps to understand what status he has in his new team.
The 24-year-old Israeli striker is the most expensive acquisition in the history of the humble club.
Weissman and Fabian Oriena represent Valladolid's ambition in the summer transfer window, but while the 34-year-old Chilean who arrived from Ibar brings with him receipts, Weissman brings with him uncertainty as well as anticipation for something big.
Weissman celebrates in Wolfsberger uniform // Photo: Gettyimages
"He has a lot of passion"
"In training we have already seen that he has that 1 patience at the gate," Sergio told the press conference ahead of tonight's meeting with Real Sociedad, "he has a lot of passion and he has already started to speak a little Spanish."
Although he was absent from the last training sessions due to the Israel national team's games in the League of Nations, Weissman will be on the roster for the opening game tonight.
"He's fit, he's played recently, he's ready and willing," his coach admitted.
In addition, Validolid does not have many options at the moment.
Apart from Sergei Guardiola, there are no other strikers available so the chance that Weissman will play tonight is not small.
And yet, Valladolid's expectations from Israeli procurement come with patience.
Like all the teams, Sergio's also arrives in the season without optimal preparation, with a few injured, and knowing that there is no choice but to move forward while on the move.
"We are at 80% ability at the moment," the coach admitted, "and in a situation like this, the offensive talent is what determines games."
In Validolid's case, the offensive talent answers to Weissman, and tonight he will start a new season in which he will try to win as many games as possible - because that is what he is expected to do.