It's not just goals

Attacking efficiency and effectiveness is something quite measurable in football, especially with the advanced statistics available nowadays, from xG to chances created. However a team having a better “mentality” and mental strength is perhaps more difficult to quantify. There is also fitness, which can be theoretically measured in the kilometres covered every game, but that also intertwines a lot with the emotions of the players and motivation more generally.

Castellon’s display against Ceuta on Sunday was one that exemplified what this team is all about. Going behind, coming back strong, and continuing to attack even with the lead. Conceding a dubious penalty which was fantastically saved by Crettaz didn’t change anything. This is a team that will be throwing bodies forward from whistle to whistle, and that comes not just from the improved fitness that makes it possible, but also the desire to do so that has been instilled by Schreuder.

As hard as it is to measure, I will just lay out a couple of simple facts about Castellon’s games last season compared to this one that speak volumes. It is still extremely early to get a big enough sample size this season, but the indications are there already that this side is in another world compared to last year.

1. In the whole of 22/23, Castellon only won one game after either conceding first, or conceding an equaliser, against relegated La Nucia. In only eight games this season, that has already happened three times. Malaga to start the season, Intercity, and at the weekend against Ceuta.
2. In the whole of 22/23, there were nine games Castellon drew or lost from a winning position. That works out to 36% of games where Castellon had the lead. So far this season, that has not happened. Any game that Castellon has had the lead it has won.

The same players who were there last year (7 out of 11 in the starting XI against Ceuta) seem transformed, especially fitness wise, and the signings have slotted in extremely well in a short amount of time. For fans last year, conceding a goal brought a sense of dread that the three points were gone. For fans this year, a goal conceded is merely a fly on the windshield in the context of the game, that eventually gets brushed off. Long may it continue.