Has 'Hormiga' González Lost Prominence Under Olympiacos' New Coach?

I opened the notebook, and the minutes of Armando 'Hormiga' González under Olympiacos' new coach Imanol Alguacil caught my eye. When Alguacil replaced José Luis Mendilibar on 10 September 2026, I thought a new chapter would begin for the Mexican forward. But the statistics from the first three matches tell a different story. To understand the context, let's return to the Mendilibar era. Mendilibar's direct, high-intensity style suited González. But Alguacil believes in the Spanish model—possession-and-press-based structures. This change raises the key question: can González adapt to the new system? In Alguacil's first match against OFI Creta, González played 67 minutes. Against Jagiellonia, 62 minutes. But against Levadiakos, only about 14 minutes, and in the Panathinaikos derby, he was on the bench for the full 90 minutes. In three matches, a total of 143 minutes and one Europa League goal. The numbers clearly say—González's role is rapidly diminishing. The pass count started everything. In the 2026 World Cup, I counted Spain's 1,029 passes—75% possession, 25 shots, yet their only goal was an own goal. From that experience, I learned that possession isn't the key; penetration is. In Alguacil's system, González may be getting possession, but the opportunities for penetration are decreasing. In the Panathinaikos derby, Marius Mouandilmadji was started as the centre-forward. This is a clear indication—in Alguacil's eyes, González is not the first-choice number nine. In high-pressure matches like derbies, Alguacil may prefer a physically stronger or more positionally disciplined striker. In the empty Mestalla, silence became a tactical instrument. In 2026, when I counted 47 coaching instructions in the Valencia-Levante match, I realized that the coach's shouts are pressing triggers. The big question now is how often Alguacil's shouts include González's name. But here comes the contrarian thought. Can González's reduced minutes really be called a permanent decline? His equalizing goal in the 2-1 comeback against Jagiellonia proves he can shine in important moments. That goal in a Europa League turnaround may linger in Alguacil's memory. I do not trust the score until the tape agrees. The 1-0 derby win has strengthened Alguacil's position. But winning teams don't want to change—this truth is a problem for González. On the other hand, the Europa League match against Marseille brings rotation. This match is González's best chance to return. Mexican media pressure may also increase. If González remains on the bench, questions about his future will arise. But the derby win has bought Alguacil some time. The real test for González is the Marseille match. If he gets a chance there and proves himself, Alguacil will be forced to change his decision. The current situation is clear—González is now a second-tier striker. But in football, one match can change everything. After the Marseille match, we'll know whether González has a place in Alguacil's plans at all.