Manchester United loanee Facundo Pellistri will be hoping the managerial change at Alaves benefits his playing time for the remainder of the season.
La Liga’s basement side dismissed Jose Luis Mendilibar last night with eight top-flight matches remaining this season.
El Glorioso have 22 points from 30 matches and are six points off safety following their 4-1 defeat to United’s Champions League conquerors Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
Mendilibar arrived at Alaves at the end of December with the aim of climbing the table. But from his 12 matches in charge, he only managed one victory.
During the 61-year-old’s time in charge, the Basque coach didn’t take a shining to Uruguayan international Pellistri.
The 20-year-old never started under Mendilibar and he only featured in three La Liga matches which amounted to 22 minutes of game time.
Under Mendilibar’s predecessor, Pellistri started six of the opening 18 La Liga matches when Javier Calleja was in charge.
The pacey winger hasn’t started a La Liga game since November and he will be hoping to play a starring role in the last eight games of the season as Alaves fight to retain their top-flight status.
It’s been a frustrating campaign for the former Penarol man, but he will be hoping to finish the season with a flourish if the manager, who is yet to be appointed, gives him a chance.
The three-time Uruguay international, whose lack of game time hasn’t impacted his country prospects, wanted to stay at Alaves when Manchester United had the option of recalling him in January.
After Uruguay booked their place at this winter’s Qatar World Cup during last month’s qualifiers, United and Facundo Pellistri will want assurances that any potential loan move for next season is met with regular game time.
Although the winger is thriving on the international scene, it’s been a testing season domestically and he will not want a period of inactivity ahead of the World Cup.
But his short-term focus will be forcing his way back into the Alaves starting line-up and doing all he can to inspire a great escape.
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