I wish I didn’t have to write these words. I wish we weren’t on the eve of a match that could define Real Valladolid’s history—one that could keep the club from disappearing from professional football after 56 years. But here we are, facing a surprising duel against a Real Zaragoza side that never expected to be in this situation either.
Some fans believe a reset in Primera RFEF would be good for Real Valladolid. I don’t see it, and I don’t agree. We have plenty of experience—though we may have forgotten it—of how difficult it is to climb back up. It’s always easier to stay up than to earn promotion. Disappearing from professional football would take us to places that don’t belong to our institution, our club, or our city.
And I say “our institution” and “our club” because it doesn’t matter the names of the players, coaches, sporting directors, or even the majority shareholders each season. Real Valladolid belongs to us, its fans and season-ticket holders. Most of those people suffer temporarily, but they come and go, moving on with their professional lives, and Valladolid becomes just another chapter. Real Valladolid existed before they arrived, and it must continue to exist after they leave.
The ones who will suffer from a bad outcome are those of us who stay—those who renew our season tickets every July or August hoping our Pucela gives us joy, those who pass this unchangeable sentiment from parents to children. It’s unique.
Coach Escribá put it bluntly: “The match against Zaragoza is our Champions League final.” Goalkeeper Álvaro Aceves added: “What’s at stake is the future of Real Valladolid.”
This is the moment to be united, to defend what is ours, to defend Real Valladolid, and to make the Estadio Zorrilla truly the 12th man—so we can beat Real Zaragoza, breathe a sigh of relief, and secure survival in Segunda División. Who would have thought? It’s not about settling; it’s realism.
Being divided for even 90 minutes could cost us dearly. We need to push so that our Pucela gets all three points. We can’t score goals or make saves, but we can support until we run out of breath. And after that, several club officials will have to answer for how a season sold as a promotion push turned into a fight to avoid relegation. But tomorrow… tomorrow we must be united and defend what is ours: defend Real Valladolid.
