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17th Apr 2017

Tony Adams’ memory momentarily abandons him after worst possible start to life in La Liga

Nightmare start

Darragh Murphy

Tony Adams’ masterplan needs some polishing.

The newly appointed Granada boss vowed to “try to keep the ball out of one end and stick it in the other,” after taking over at Los Cármenes.

Unfortunately for Adams, his first game went in exactly the opposite direction as Granada fell to a 3-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday night.

The players’ arses had seemingly not been kicked hard enough and the uphill task facing Adams became clear for all to see.

The former Arsenal defender hadn’t taken a managerial job in six years, which made Granada’s pursuit of him all the more surprising.

And the weekend’s result wasn’t the only piece of evidence that might suggest Adams is a tad rusty because he also struggled to keep up to speed in his post-match press conference.

The first question posed to Adams came from esteemed Spanish football reporter Sid Lowe. And apparently it was a good one.

“Good question, Sid!” Adams remarked.

But his memory seemed to abandon him shortly thereafter as he failed to answer the question, the quality of which he had literally just complimented.

“I don’t know who to ask. What was your first question?”

To be fair to Adams, he quickly steadied the ship and started actually giving answers.

“This is the best league in the world,” Adams said. “Just don’t tell the English that. You get punished when you make mistakes.

“Celta Vigo are a good side. I thought we defended well apart from the three goals.”

And while a 3-0 home defeat was by no means the best start to Spanish life for the 50-year-old, Adams remains optimistic.

He continued: “I think I got a reaction from some of the players and it’s important for me now as the leader to make sure the players do not throw the towel in.”