Choir seeks successor to its heroic goal
Suffering is intrinsic to Espanyol , which in its modern history has faced more than a few moments with the noose around its neck. The youngest blue and white fan has experienced two relegations in four years, but the adult knows better than anyone what it's like to suffer until the very last matchday to stay in the First Division. And when it comes to suffering to avoid finishing in the Second Division, everyone without exception goes back to 2006. To an iconic moment, a memorable goal scored by Ferran Corominas, Coro (42 years old), a protagonist against Real Sociedad when the disaster was already sinking in the stands.
“It's one of the most important goals of my career, but it was a day of great suffering,” recalls the former Real Madrid striker. “It was a game in which they—as is happening now with Las Palmas —had nothing to play for. We had many chances, but the ball wouldn't go in. We hit the post three times! When the goal came—in the 91st minute—I felt liberation, joy, too, but we didn't celebrate it like a title; that day was one of suffering and liberation.”
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That afternoon of May 13th saw more tears of joy than bottles of champagne. An explosion of jubilation unlike any seen before. Back then, Lotina's team seemed saved on matchday 35, five points above relegation, but lost the next two matches, a situation similar to the current one. "The ones at the bottom always start winning in the end, you don't know how. But this year the time has come to win and secure safety. There's no other option. We can't speculate," he declares.
The goal gave me a sense of liberation and joy. But that day we didn't celebrate, we suffered. Former Espanyol Player Choir
In the face of a week of maximum tension, Coro recommends working on the psychological factor above all else. "We have to calm the players, since they're going to be at 200% because they know what's at stake. We have to try not to let them get overexcited."
Facing an all-or-nothing match, the Banyoles native believes the recipe is "to come out strong and try to be ahead at halftime. But if the ball doesn't go in and Leganés takes the lead, don't let the crowd down. It's possible. It's just one goal." Persistence is the psychological factor the former striker values most. "You can't get down, you have to keep going until the end," he hopes.
Although the key to the match, for him, is that it's being played in Cornellà, because "in difficult moments, the fans always support the team, and it shows." Such is his confidence that the RCDE Stadium will be decisive that he predicts "a 3-1." "I have 100% confidence and I think we'll win well," he concludes.
If the ball doesn't go in and Leganés scores, people shouldn't get discouraged, we have to keep going and going." Choir of former Espanyol players
That magical night, a prime example of what the club is all about, is one of the most memorable moments for Spanish fans. Just two years earlier, in 2004, Luis Fernández's team had already had to play a final against already relegated Murcia, which they won with two late goals (2-0) from Tamudo and Lopo.
There are also disappointing finishes on this list, such as the 1993 relegation, the last before the Chen era, although that is a memory that all Spanish fans want to block out during such an important week.
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