UD Las Palmas have sacked head coach Rubén de la Barrera after taking just one point from their last twelve league matches. The club have appointed local coach Juan Manuel Rodríguez as interim manager, with his first training session scheduled for 17:00 on Monday at Barranco Seco.

The decision follows a 3-1 defeat away to Mallorca, a result that leaves the team 15th in the Segunda División table with 11 points from nine games. UD Las Palmas have only managed one home win this season and sit just three points above the relegation zone. Sporting director Luis Helguera has moved to address a clear sporting crisis.

Structural issues

The team has shown serious defensive flaws, with a high line and a lack of recovery pace. In attack, build-up play has been erratic and reliant on individual moments. Goalkeeper Caro has conceded 16 goals in nine matches. The absence of Kirian Rodríguez in midfield has been felt, while attempts like Churripi's long balls or Jesé's creativity have not yielded the expected results.

Club legend Jonathan Viera, who recently terminated his contract with Thai side Ratchaburi, has been critical of the planning. "The manager is the least to blame and he is bearing a problem caused by the sporting planning of director Luis Helguera," Viera said in a public interview. Helguera, whose contract as sporting director runs until 2029, oversaw a summer that saw key players like goalkeeper Dinko Horkas, defender Mika Mármol and full-back Lorenzo Amatucci depart.

The immediate change

Juan Manuel Rodríguez, who has already managed the first team in 125 previous matches, faces a complex challenge. His first game in charge will be this Saturday at 17:30 at the Estadio de Gran Canaria against a Castellón side sitting third in the table. The squad needs a quick boost to regain confidence and move away from the bottom.

Former manager Rubén de la Barrera, from A Coruña, was in charge for only nine matchdays. Upon his departure, he stated that "in football, I understand everything." UD Las Palmas hope that Rodríguez, who knows the club from its youth setup, can instil the identity the team has lost. The match against Castellón is already a must-win to turn the tide.

First reported at laprovincia.es