We imagined a night to remember and that we had to live. The result was a dream night and a well-deserved promotion. Because Real Valladolid has been the team that has played the best football this season in the Second Division. That is unanswerable. He had also been the one who had made the most unexpected mistakes, until Eibar’s ‘Alcorconazo’ put things in their place. I start from the basis that Almería, Eibar and Valladolid all three deserve to go up. They have been dominant and far superior to their rivals throughout the year. The playoff is very exciting and attractive, but also very unfair to the third party. Eibar has taken ten points from Las Palmas and can stay without going up. The situation has an obvious point of injustice.
But, fortunately, Real Valladolid no longer has to experience that situation. In the last minutes of the last night everything took an unexpected turn of script, this time yes, in favor of the blanquivioletas. They were ninety minutes of passion, nerves, tension, emotions, suffering and, above all, transistors. And with a happy ending for the white and purple colors. Few things can be more emotional than seeing a full Zorrilla celebrating a promotion. It already happened four years ago against Numancia and ten years ago against Alcorcón. And the sensations have been the same although this time the conditions added much more mystery to everything.
It was spectacular to see on the faces of the Zorrilla fans the illusion that with the passing of the minutes was being created until all together they exploded with the goal from Alcorcón and with the final whistle. Gone were 42 days and nine months of suffering, joy and ups and downs. Few competitions like the Second are as tough and as difficult to manage. There is much merit in going over 80 points, as Real Valladolid has done.
And now it’s time for valuations. The first around pacheta, questioned at some specific moments, but always being the leader who has put the point of positivism that has been so important throughout the season. You have achieved the goal for which you were hired. How did he do it? Fran Sancheza sports director who has shown on the banks of the Pisuerga that he has managed to handle such complicated situations as having almost 40 players in the preseason or managing the winter market with departures such as Alcaraz and Olaza and signing players who have been decisive such as Monchu or Ivan Sanchez. His work has had much merit.
It is also time to assess the management of Ronaldo and his work team, always questioned and being subjected to the enormous demands that a club like Real Valladolid has, which, today, is more consolidated, financially balanced and with facilities and future plans that make the fans excited. Seen from the outside, and also from the inside, Real Valladolid seems to me to be an exemplary club and a model to follow.
High mark for the template, without personalizing anyone because it would be unfair, but always committed and recovering from major setbacks such as the defeat suffered against Real Sociedad. And I don’t forget the fans, impeccable, traveling with their team, pushing from the stands like never before. He has been that player number twelve so necessary.
It’s time to enjoy and appreciate how important it is to have a First Division team again. If things are done well and managed with common sense, this club has an extraordinary future. Ronaldo, having overcome the setback of relegation, continues with his roadmap.