Mirandas from the Premier League has in the past few weeks kicked Salta Vigo and Seville, and has a history of sensations in the King's Cup • Tonight against Villarreal, she will try to surprise and make the semi-finals
Mirands players celebrate in front of the Andalusians
Photo:
IP
To produce the most sought-after thing in the Cup, Cinderella, the Spanish Association decided to make changes to the King's Cup format. Instead of the method that eliminates the chance of two-round surprises, only one knockout meeting was decided (only the semi-finals will take place).
To add pepper, it was decided that the team would always host from the lower league. So Barcelona played Ibiza and barely survived, Real Madrid absorbed from Unionists Salamanca, Atletico Madrid was ousted by Cultural Leonese, but the quarter-final picture is far from sensational. Seven teams from the top league are there, and the only one from the minor league - Mirands - is the so-called "typical trophy group".
The small group from northeastern Spain is certainly not a league team. In her 93 years of existence, she never managed to qualify for the senior league, swinging steadily between the fourth and second leagues. In the Cup, however, she managed to overcome the all-league representation.
In 2004/2005 she reached the eighth finals after beating Salamanca and Real Sociedad on the way, and in 2015/2016 continued to the quarterfinals after victories over Malaga and La Coronia. But above all, there is the achievement that she will try to restore tonight - the magic spree of the 2011/2012 season. So, as the third league representative and the old two-point format, Mirandes stunned as she reached the semi-finals.
Under coach Carlos Puuso and factory gatekeeper Pablo Infante, she skipped over three senior league reps - Espanyol, Racing Santander and Villarreal - until she was stopped in the semifinals against Athletic Bilbao. Former Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa had a clear plan: He placed his right-hand defender Andriy Iraola on the formidable Infante, thus disabling Little Miranda.
The season's journey to the Cup began on December 17 // Photo: AP
Ireola was a symbol of Bilbao. He left her in 2015 after 12 years and over 400 appearances, went on to play with David Via and Andrea Pirello in the US until he announced retirement from the game in 2016. His coaching career began at AQ Larnaka from the League in Cyprus, but despite leading it He was sacked for the European League in January 2019. This summer, when Mirandes came up with a league and was looking for a new coach, she applied to the Eurozone.
"I want us to be an offensive team and to keep pace with our games," the 37-year-old Basque declared. After a stuttered opening, the results also came. Although the team is 11th in the league, it is only three points from where it leads to the playoffs.
The season's journey to the Cup began on December 17, against Korosho of the Third League. Miranda lagged this game three times, scoring 4: 4 in the 92nd minute and deciding the game in the 119th minute. Three weeks later, in the second round, she was also drawn to extend against Murcia from the third league, and needed a goal in the 114th minute to move on with a 2: 3 win.
Two weeks ahead, in the third round, she hosted Salta Vigo of the Senior League and yes, that game also extended to 1: 1 par. Yes, Antonio Sanchez scored the winning goal in the 114th minute, just in the eighth in front of Sevilla Mirandas only needed 90 minutes to beat Andalusia 1: 3 after missing Pendel.
"We know that they are great favorites," said Aerola ahead of tonight's meeting with Villarreal; "That is why we must not make mistakes and we must believe in our chances." With the home fort at Andova Stadium, the history of the Cup and its offensive style of play, Mirandes may believe in her chances to recapture the 2011/2012 season. If you do and reach the semi-finals, you might also be able to take revenge on Bilbao for the impeachment of nine years ago. This time, if that happens, Aerola will be on her side.