Sergio Ruiz: the anchor of Las Palmas
The midfielder is only a temporary measure for Pepe Mel's side, but he looks set to make his loan signing a beneficial one in Gran Canaria.
It remains to be seen whether Las Palmas will emerge as genuine promotion candidates this season, but their opening six games have at least confirmed one thing: Pepe Mel’s side will not want for a lack of intent.
At the start of their second full season under Mel, Las Palmas have began with a look of revitalisation. Younger, hungrier and packing more dynamism than before, the combination of squad re-modelling and some new opportunities for existing players has opened a new chapter for the team. After suffering relegation from LaLiga in 2018, the recovery process is finally starting to make way for the present.
Statistically, Las Palmas are the second-youngest team in the division. The average age of their starters has been just over 25, trailing only Mirandés as the youngest playing staff thus far. 19-year-old pair Rober and Enzo Loidice have both started all six games since signing in the summer; enthusing a young core that has also been emboldened internally, with opportunities for the likes of Claudio Mendes, Álvaro Vallés and Kirian Rodríguez. In line with this youthful enthusiasm, a group who are playing with freedom unseen in Las Palmas for a number of years has emerged.
Freedom will not guarantee success, however. Las Palmas know their young team will open new possibilities for them this season. They also know they need to find the right balance of filtered experience, plus the structure in terms of playing style that will allow them to maximise their renewed vigour and make it effective in terms of results.
It’s for this reason that Sergio Ruiz - their summer loan signing from Charlotte FC - has perhaps been the standout player, even in spite of the attackers catching the eye at the head of the team’s energised approach. At just 25 years old himself, the midfielder is firmly among the team’s new youthful core, but has played with the quality and maturity of someone beyond his current experience.
Operating as the deepest midfielder in Las Palmas’ 4-1-4-1 system, Ruiz has quickly established himself as the organiser of the team. His performance in the defensive midfield role is key to the team’s success at all times, and has been one of the main reasons why they have been able to find some early balance between their attacking style and defensive solidity from open play.
In possession, Ruiz alternates between operating as a third centre back and backing up their play once they progress up the field. This role as the anchor of the team has a big influence on Las Palmas’ attacking shape. With Ruiz capable enough to cover space from sideline-to-sideline and make strong defensive contributions, Pepe Mel can afford to play two attack-minded central midfielders ahead of him, in the form of Kirian Rodríguez and Enzo Loidice. This generates a 3-4-3 shape in possession, allowing Las Palmas to attack often with seven players: the two full-backs pushed up, the two free #8’s in midfield and the front three, with wingers Pejiño and Rober able to come inside.
This is a new possibility for Las Palmas, who last season struggled to find balance between attacking and defending in a similar system. Pepe Mel often reverted to using two holding midfielders, at the expense of their attacking coherency. With Sergio Ruiz - who leads the team in tackles (11) and possession recoveries (37) - the team has found a structure to elevate their competitiveness at both ends.
Las Palmas’ build-up play from the back has also gained a new dimension this season. With clearer responsibilities on the midfield in this aspect - principally on Sergio Ruiz as the main contributor - the team have found better solutions in building play in deep areas. The 25-year-old has completed 91% of his passes in Las Palmas’ half, providing reliable links over short distances. He’s also creative in his decision-making in the build-up phase, which allows him to carry the ball out of pressure when required. Ruiz has completed ten of his 11 dribbles so far - six of which have been in the defensive third.
In the example below, Ruiz filled in on the right side of Las Palmas’ defensive line in their 3-4-3 shape, and was able to carry confidently through Fuenlabrada’s pressure after the passing angle out wide was closed off.
Las Palmas have lost just one of their opening six games, with that defeat coming while down to ten men on the opening day at Leganés. Their return of nine points leaves them in eighth place, although the general consensus is that their performances have merited more. The caveat of their season so far is that they’ve already received three red cards. In total, they have spent roughly 90 minutes with a one-man deficit across the six games. But even with ten men for the entire second half against Málaga, they remained the stronger and more effective team.
While many teams in Segunda are still struggling to implant an identity, Las Palmas are among those who can safely say they have their road map. Their new 4-1-4-1 system is benefitting players throughout the XI, with the arrival of Sergio Ruiz as the team’s new reference point yielding a more defined approach. The freedom afforded to attacking players is allowing them to regularly contribute goals and assists (including Álvaro Lemos who is excelling in attack from right-back), and they’ve conceded just five non-penalty goals in six games; keeping a clean sheet in each of the last two.
For such a young side relative to their Segunda competition, Las Palmas’ performance levels so far will be the envy of a number of teams. As they embark on a season where promotion was not a clearly realistic goal, the productivity of new recruits like Sergio Ruiz may well be about to change the script.