Javier Aguirre achieved the unexpected: qualified Mallorca to the final of the Copa del Rey, instance to which the team reaches for the fourth time and in which it had not been for 21 years.
This It is the second final of this tournament that the Mexican technical director has reached since he arrived in Spain in 2022. but the surprising thing is that He has done it with teams that are not usually contenders for the titleso the coach and his players They have to appeal to what is already called “tequila soccer”that It consists of a joint effort of a team where there are not many figures, but where there is plenty of energy and desire.very eager.
This Tuesday, in the semifinal of the contest, Mallorcacurrent “Vasco” team, never gave up, tied in regulation time with Real Sociedad, forced extra time and won the game on penalties.
The story is similar to that of 2005, when Aguirre sought to save Osasuna from relegation and achieved it with a modest squad, but along the way he managed to sneak into the final of the Copa del Reyalthough they lost it against Betis.
Now you have the opportunity to win it for the first time when faced March 6 to the winner of the other semifinal that will be played this Thursday between the Athletic Bilbao and Atlético de Madrid.
Even if he doesn’t achieve it, with his “tequila football” the ‘Vasco Aguirre’ already has a place of honor in Mallorca along with what, at the time, with great success, other emblematic technicians of the team, such as the Argentine Héctor Cúper, proposed and the Spaniards Lorenzo Serra Ferrer and Gregorio Manzano.
Cúper and Serra Ferrer led the team in the finals lost against FC Barcelona (1998) and Atlético de Madrid (1991); Only Manzano achieved the glory of bringing the Copa del Rey champion trophy to the club’s showcases (2003) by beating Recreativo de Huelva (0-3) in Elche.
It is worth remembering that Mallorca I hadn’t played in a final for twenty-one years. He was not a favorite to compete in the La Cartuja stadium in Seville in the grand final of the cup tournament, much less compete for the Spanish Super Cup. which will be held in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of January 2025.
This contrasts with their erratic trajectory in LaLiga, where they are 6 points from the relegation zone, but we know that “Vasco” is a specialist in evading it.
A favorable draw in the Cup that pitted them against CD Boiro, CD Valle de Egüés, Burgos and Tenerife, lower category rivals, helped them reach the quarterfinals, in which they made a splash by defeating Girona FC (3 -2), revelation team of the home championship.
“We had no pressure, we didn’t even try penalties, but we suffered like dogs“Aguirre declared minutes after eliminating Real Sociedad in the semifinal after extra time (1-1) and shots from eleven meters (5-4).
The Mallorcan coach has reasons to feel loved by the fans and respected by the board chaired by former American tennis player and businessman Andy Kohlberg, despite some poor results this season having raised doubts.
“We have never been in relegation,” the Mexico City coach defended himself every time he was questioned about his team’s performance in press conferences.
In fact, Aguirre arrived on the island in March 2022 with Mallorca in the midst of a results crisis. He saved them from relegation after a dramatic sprint, an objective that he continued in the following season, when he classified the team among the top ten of the League.
The ‘Vasco’ has the entire Mallorcan squad plugged infrom the player with the fewest minutes to those who are undisputed starters.
The palpable demonstration is the path taken to reach the final of the Copa del Rey, a feat only explained through the sacrifice and unity of a group of professionals which Javier Aguirre has managed to lead, showing off his extensive experience in professional football.
*With information from EFE.
Keep reading:
· Mallorca’s “Vasco” Aguirre draws in the first leg and leaves the Copa del Rey semi-final on hold
· Javier Aguirre’s Mallorca gives the bell and advances to the final of the Copa del Rey
· “We do not rehearse penalties”: Javier Aguirre after winning from 11 steps with Mallorca and advancing to the final of the Copa del Rey