In the sun-kissed Canary Islands, there's a small but formidable soccer team making waves in La Liga. Las Palmas, often underestimated by their opponents, are on course for their best season result in 45 years and are determined to secure a spot in Europe. Their attractive style of play, characterized by ball possession, precise passing, and well-worked goals, has caught the attention of soccer fans across the country. Additionally, their solid defense, led by full-back Sergi Cardona, has been one of the best in the league, conceding fewer goals than all but Real Madrid.
Despite being one of the poorest teams in terms of budget, with only €35 million ($37.5 million) at their disposal for the 2023/24 season, Las Palmas has found a way to compete with the big spenders. Isolated on an island without the resources and infrastructure of mainland clubs, they have had to rely on creativity and ingenuity to improve their performance.
Manuel Rodríguez, also known as Tonono, the club's youth academy director, explains that their isolation has forced them to develop innovative solutions. They created a parallel league to bridge the gap between them and teams of a higher level and have had to navigate the challenges of the foreign market and expensive competitions. Despite these obstacles, Las Palmas has managed to develop talented players who have mastered time, space, and trickery on the ball from a young age.
One of their standout players, Kirian Rodríguez, born in nearby Tenerife and a cancer survivor, symbolizes the team's slick style of play. He is a prime example of a Las Palmas player, embodying their philosophy on the field. And then there's Pedri, the Islanders' favorite son, who spent four years at Las Palmas before moving to Barcelona, where he continues to inspire the next generation.
The Barcelona influence doesn't stop there. Las Palmas' coach, García Pimienta, previously worked with Barcelona's youth teams before transitioning into senior soccer management. The irony is that while Barcelona searches for a new manager, the one they let go, Pimienta, is excelling at Las Palmas.
With contract extensions for Kirian Rodríguez and defender Alex Suarez secured, Las Palmas still has work to do to make this season even more memorable. Their next challenge awaits them on February 17, as they face Atlético Madrid, a team they already outclassed 3-1 in a previous encounter.
Las Palmas is proving that with determination, creativity, and the right mix of talent, even a team with limited resources can make a significant impact in one of Europe's toughest soccer competitions. Their impressive season and attractive style of play have caught the attention of fans and experts alike, showcasing the untapped potential that lies within the small, sun-kissed islands of the Canary archipelago.
