From Zaporizhia to Marbella, from Europe to ascend

“In the old and industrial Zaporiyia, where the smell of burnt rubber permeates an environment that takes you to another era, Espanyol certified their pass to the group stage of the Europa League 12 years later. It was by no means the best tie of those of Gallego, only over 45 of the 180 minutes to a surprising ZoryaThis is how the chronicle of the Zorya-Espanyol from a year ago written from the Slavutych stadium, next to the street Lobanovskand (mythical coach of Dynamo Kiev). An encounter that gave him the European classification for parrots, perhaps the only joy of a course that, later, it was a penance.

That Espanyol landed a day before on Ukrainian soil, the most ancestral destination next to Razgrad (Bulgaria) of the already buried 2019-20 Europa League, that of the fifth descent course. And he did it with excessive doubts for their stagnation in the game and the defeat on the first day against Sevilla (0-2). The premiere of David gallego I was waking up misgivings despite the confidence of the technician of Suria, which later led to a somewhat curious and contradictory press conference: “It is very easy to criticize from the sofa smoking a cigarette or drinking a Coca-Cola,” he said, and later added: “The team will grow.”

Before that, the Spanish lived a more tense match than it reflects the final 2-2. Uncomfortable at all times, the feeling from the almost full Slavutych, is that the 1-0 could come at any time and would turn the tie upside down (3-1 in the first leg). But the player appeared plus lucky summer, then the most disappointing, the Chuky Ferreyra, for do the 0-1 that put the downhill knockout. He rescued a Espanyol who later celebrated with enthusiasm the ticket to the group stage, although he was restless inside because of the level shown until then.

Galician lined in that meeting to Diego López, Dídac, Lluís, Melendo (all of them will continue), Darder, Calero, Vargas, Roca (they are doubtful) and Javi López, Granero and Ferreyra, who are no longer there. One year later, and in Second, Espanyol trains in Marbella to face Cádiz tomorrow in the second preseason match. From playing in the Europa League to preparing for promotion to First Division after a year to forget.