James Rodríguez's starting role at Rayo divides opinions
On August 26, James Rodríguez became a new player for Rayo Vallecano, and since then, his media presence has caused discord within the club, among the fans, and with his coach, Iñigo Pérez, who gave him his first start in the last match against Leganés.
In his fourth call-up, after playing a few minutes in the second half against Osasuna and Atlético de Madrid, and remaining on the bench against Girona, James made his first start in a Madrid derby against Leganés. Despite drawing all the attention and receiving support from the fans, the Colombian couldn’t celebrate a victory, as Rayo settled for a 1-1 draw after an inconsistent performance.
The Colombian was named MVP of the match despite only playing 64 minutes, achieving the highest pass accuracy in the team, with 33 passes and a 94% success rate. Additionally, he had one shot on target and received a yellow card in the second half.
“I’m happy to be back in Spain. I felt good. I’m slowly adapting to the team and my new teammates, who have helped me a lot. We have to take it one game at a time; this team has a lot of quality, and we must perform well in every match,” James said after the game.
A few minutes later, coach Iñigo Pérez held a press conference where he addressed the criticism he had received, mainly on social media, from Colombian fans who didn’t understand why he wasn’t giving James more minutes. Some fans even whistled at the coach during the match against Osasuna when, instead of choosing James, he made his final substitution with Aridane Hernández.
“It seems like everyone assumes that someone comes and has to start right away. I understand that, but there are several players who haven’t played a single minute yet. Regarding James, I believe in him, I’m happy he’s here, but as a coach of 25 players, I don’t like making distinctions,” Pérez explained.
“I understand the hierarchy and the circumstances. James has been exemplary in training, and we all need to help him. It’s not good for him or for Rayo. If he played today, it’s because I thought he was the best option for that position and for winning. We need to turn this situation around for everyone’s sake,” the coach concluded.
Since James' arrival, excitement around him has grown, especially among Colombian fans living in Madrid, who attend matches wearing number ten jerseys and scarves with his face. They are joined by thousands of football fans and fellow Colombians who follow his every move from afar through social media, generating pressure that the coach is eager to avoid.
