The three most repeated letters in Quintanar of the Order these last days are ‘and if…?’. “And if they play a bad game…?” What if we score in a corner…?” “What if we go to penalties…?” CD Quintanar plays the most important match in its history this Tuesday: against Sevilla, in the Copa del Rey. Single party. 90 minutes. On a playing field where, after all, it is eleven against eleven. And if the surprise comes…?
“You see there, friend Sancho Panza, where thirty or a few more rampaging giants are discovered, with whom I plan to do battle,” wrote Miguel de Cervantes in one of the best-known passages of ‘The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha’. Here, in a place in La Mancha whose name I do want to remember, they identify with the Knight Errant.
Quintanar de la Orden players celebrate passing in the Copa del Rey
The giants are Lamela, liver Torres, El-Nesiry, Bad or Rafa Mir. Rakitic or Sergio Ramos will not be there (to the shame of some players on the La Mancha team) but the team that played in the Champions League seven days ago appears today at the Alfonso Viller. And that is the only thing that has been talked about in Quintanar since the day of the draw. “Not Champions, not Real Madrid, not Barcelona or anything… but in the Quintanar Cup match”tells BRAND Luis Herasmidfielder for the La Mancha club.
Neither Champions, nor Real Madrid, nor Barcelona or anything… but in the Quintanar Cup match
Luis Heras, CD Quintanar player
The entire region with Quintanar
“Many people from the town, from here and around too, are talking to me… For them it is also a source of pride, even though they are not from Quintanar. For them it is a pride that a town of 10,000 inhabitants can play against Sevilla,” he told MARCA. Michael the Navalncaptain of the La Mancha team.
For them it is a pride that a town of 10,000 inhabitants can play against Sevilla
Miguel Ángel Navalón, captain of CD Quintanar
5,400 spectators are expected… with around 150 Sevillistas. Ticket sales lasted for hours. Since 7 in the morning there were people queuing so as not to miss a match that has disrupted everyone’s plans. There is no talk of anything else. Navaln against Rafa Mir, Luis covering Fernando, Joselu facing Juanlu.
The Quintanar de la Orden players, in training.EFE.
“I knew people were going to respond but I didn’t expect this,” says Luis. No Quintanar player has ever played in front of so many people. In the previous round, against Zona Norte, more than 2,000 people packed the ‘Los Molinos’ field. This time it will be doubled. And there are nerves. Tension It’s the game of their lives… but it’s a football game.
I knew people were going to respond but I didn’t expect this.
Luis Heras, CD Quintanar player
A special week… ‘normalized’
And this is how he has prepared it Ivan Nietocoach of Quintanar. This match is the reward for his career. To many clay and Mikasas games, bus trips and Autonomous League games. The Quintanar coach, who acknowledges to MARCA that he likes the ‘Tornado’ Alonso’s proposal, says that “in the end it is a football match.”
We have presented it as a normal week, a normal match preview: it is 90 minutes against another football team, even if it is Sevilla
Ivn Nieto, coach of CD Quintanar
“I know it is true that there is the speed of play, the rhythm, the mental speed of each player when making decisions… But we have presented it as a normal week, a normal match preview: it is 90 minutes against another football team, even if it is Sevilla,” he says.
Talk at a Quintanar training session.EFE.
He jokes with his second, Antonio Garcia. So do the players. More than usual since the draw became known. He is a Sevilla player. He is a member of the Sevilla team in Quintanar de la Orden… but in this game he is from the Quintanar team. “He tells us to eliminate them but please not injure anyone who has the Champions League and LaLiga”Luis jokes to MARCA when asked about Antonio.
A “surreal” path
And although many times it does not transcend, the path to reach this point in the Copa del Rey is not easy. The last round, the draw and the joy of playing against a Primera is left for the national press. But there is a lot behind it. And in the case of Quintanar it is not a topic used for free. His path to this round was anything but simple.
It all started with a disappointment. Failure to achieve promotion to Tercera RFEF sent them to the first qualifying round to play in the Copa del Rey. It was in June, against Noblejas… just before closing the 2022/23 season, they were already thinking about 2023/24. They lost 2-3 at home. Spirits were low to play the second leg.
Quintanar players celebrate a goal against Zona Norte. Vicente Glvez.
“Minute 85, we needed two goals… and we had nine. It was surreal,” remembers Luis Heras. They were out. Not even the most optimistic thought about the miracle. Swimming pools, barbecues and enjoying the summer. He didn’t touch…not yet. “We are very accustomed to doing crazy things.” They scored two goals in five minutes and eliminated Noblejas. They were inside. 0-2 when nobody believes.
We are very made to do crazy things
Luis Heras, CD Quintanar player
Months later they eliminated Zona Norte from the Madrid Preferente and now it’s Sevilla’s turn. “I didn’t think this was real until this week, when I arrived and saw the stands set up.”he tells MARCA scar Palominothe Sports Director of Quintanar de la Orden. “It’s impressive,” he adds. It’s a unique day.
I didn’t think this was real until this week, when I arrived and saw the stands set up
scar Palomino, Sports Director of CD Quintanar
scar Palomino, Sports Director, and Jos Luis Ballesteros, president of Quintanar.CD Quintanar.
New idols
“The pressure is on them,” says Luis. “We have done what we had to do,” he adds. “People on the street tell us that we can win”, just. They enjoy it, support comes from everywhere. “Messages keep coming… Sponsors, from former players, from coaches, players from other teams… With words of encouragement and so on. That’s the beauty of this, seeing the faces of the children, of the older people. It’s very rewarding,” adds Scar.
People on the street tell us that we can win
Luis Heras, CD Quintanar player
Everyone has been enjoying what they have achieved for weeks. Navaln, team captain and physical education teacher, leads the talks that the team has been giving at different schools in the town and area. “We talk about the values that sport transmits, the team, healthy habits that football can transmit…”. And they, from the other side, look at them with renewed admiration.
“He was the teacher who played football… now it seems that Griezmann, Cristiano, Messi are here… that shine in his eyes…
Miguel Ángel Navalón, captain of CD Quintanar
“I’ve never seen that look,” he admits. “He was the teacher who played football… now it seems that Griezmann, Cristiano, Messi are here… that sparkle in their eyes. You signed an autograph for them and they left with tears in their eyes. “For the image you have left, everything I have done during this time for football is worth it.”
2023-11-01 05:43:52
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