Cook: Blues have got a very tasty boss there
THE man who so nearly guided Wigan to a Championship miracle last season believes Blues have made the right decision in hiring Aitor Karanka.
The new head coach oversaw his first league match in charge of Blues on Saturday and guided his team to a surprise 1-0 victory over promotion hopefuls Brentford.
That represented a first victory in 17 attempts, spanning lockdown and seven months.
They looked organised and spirited and stood firm when Brentford searched for an equaliser in the second half.
Former Latics boss Paul Cook, who guided Wigan to a remarkable revival that nearly saved them from relegation despite a points deduction, commended Blues for ending Karanka’s 18-month sabbatical.
“They will be absolutely delighted,” he said. “The run at the end of the season was a really difficult one for everyone connected with the club.
‘‘After no fans coming in, the poor form and the lack of a manager for a period of time, Aitor Karanka, in my opinion, is a top appointment.
“He is a proven manager at these levels and that was a fantastic result for them to start.”
Blues go to Swansea on Saturday looking for their first away win since February 11 at Barnsley.
The Swans were victorious at Preston on Saturday with a solitary goal from Wolves loanee Morgan GibbsWhite. Steve Cooper’s men did the double over Blues last season.
Meanwhile, Karanka has handed a trial to Barcelona academy product Oriol Soldevila.
The 19-year-old will link up with the club’s Under-23s having been released by the La Liga giants.
The attacking midfielder started out in the UE Cornella set-up before joining Barca’s Under-18s, progressing to the Under-19s before leaving at the end of last summer.
He is without a club but there are other suitors interested.
Soldevila has played for Barca in the UEFA Youth League and will arrive to try to earn a deal with an Under-23s team that also features his compatriot Miguel Fernandez.
Fernandez scored Blues’ only goal – his second of the season – of their 1-1 draw with Coventry’s Under-23s in their most recent game.
Blues have taken several players with links to UE Cornalla, including current first-team squad member Agus Medina, and Ivan Guzman, who has once again been sent out on loan. Former Cornella coach Xavi Calm also spent most of last season at Blues.
Blues are also still trying to bring Scott Hogan across the city from Villa. Karanka has repeatedly spoken of his desire to add options up front, with Lukas Jutkiewicz the only senior striker.
Hogan, who had a loan spell at Blues last season, is entering the final year of his contract at Villa and hasn’t played for his parent club since January 2019.
Instead there have been loans with Sheffield United, Stoke and, in the second half of last term, Blues – which initially started off well. The Republic of Ireland man scored seven goals in his first eight games and struck up a fruitful relationship with Jutkiewicz. However, lockdown disrupted Blues and Hogan and the striker cut a frustrated figure as the campaign unravelled.
Blues are thought to be working on a permanent deal for the 28-year-old, who during lockdown expressed his desire to return to St Andrew’s. Bournemouth were linked with Hogan last month but nothing has developed on that front, while Blues and Villa have had talks.