The situation has been the same for many years, but the role of local footballers at UD this season is much greater than that of their rival. In fact, there will be four in Pepe Mel’s lineup; in that of Luis Miguel Ramis, one or none, because it is not entirely clear that David Rodríguez, a youth squad who debuted last weekend on the right side after the expulsion of Mellot, is going to repeat. The American Shaq Moore, who will reach the derby on time after his international summons, is the most logical alternative.
In the yellow side Eric Curbelo will form in the center of the defense, Alberto Moleiro and Jonathan Viera in the center of the field and Jesé Rodríguez in the front to contribute the Canarian air to the derby. If David Rodríguez plays finally, the blue and white team will contribute one more.
Beyond the headlines, the UD has 10 other players from the land who work daily under Mel’s orders. Only two of them have not made their debut yet, the centrals Álex Suárez and Saúl Coco, who have a difficult time participating due to the good work of Ferigra, Raúl Navas and Curbelo. The latter, precisely, is the second that accumulates the most minutes, with 603.
The most utilized
Because the one who most is Jesé Rodríguez, with 615. The forward is a permanent fixture for Mel and on Saturday he will try to score his first goal against Tenerife. The others are Benito Ramírez, Fabio González, Maikel Mesa, Kirian Rodríguez, Óscar Clemente, Clau Mendes, Rafa Mujica and Ale García, with more or less prominence, but always present for Mel, who plans to give the opportunity to those who play less in the week-long session next Wednesday, in Lugo.
In Tenerife, on the other hand, the nine players – de facto, eight, because Javi Alonso does not have a record due to having a long-term injury – who are in the dynamics of the first team are hardly relevant. The two who have a professional record are goalkeeper Dani Hernández, born in Venezuela but raised on the neighboring island, and Alberto Jiménez, but neither of them has made his debut this year. Of the rest, up to seven players from the Blue and White quarry who participate in daily training sessions under the command of Ramis, only three have played for a minute.
It is about David Rodríguez himself, who debuted last Sunday; by Ethyan González –75 minutes– and Thierno Barry –three minutes. The others, who are Jeremy Socorro, Félix Alonso and Dylan Perera, have not made their debut in the championship either.
Gone are the years when the Vitolo, Ricardo León or Suso Santana provided the chicharrera spark in derbies. Those who lived veterans such as David García, Aythami Artiles or the Castellano brothers also belong to the past. Now the sap is new.
The board
In any case, UD Las Palmas beats CD Tenerife in terms of canariety. Having more or less players from the ground is not a guarantee of success; in fact, the blue and white box is two places above the yellow and has three more points. However, coaches, in general, do not usually overlook the extra degree of motivation that a home footballer can have in a match of maximum rivalry.
Curbelo, Jonathan Viera, Alberto Moleiro and Jesé Rodríguez will put the Canarian accent from the start, which could be joined by David Rodríguez on the other side. Beyond that, 3,061 minutes versus 127 speak for themselves; There is a team, the yellow one, that takes into account the players of the Archipelago when it comes to making the squad. Only in that aspect, the UD begins winning.