THE PLAYOFFS SHOULDN'T BE SEEN AS A PUNISHMENT; THEY'RE AN OPPORTUNITY

Editorial | Juan Sánchez

Soccer has a short memory, but its emotions linger. What happened to CD Estepona this weekend is the best example of that contradiction that makes this sport so special—and so tough.

For a few minutes, staying up was a reality. You could almost touch it. You could celebrate. But soccer, capricious and sometimes unfair, decided to write a different script. A goal in another stadium, in the dying seconds, changed the fate of an entire team.

It hurts. Of course it hurts. But we mustn’t forget where this group came from. Just a few weeks ago, relegation seemed inevitable. The team was on the ropes, with no margin for error, no safety net. And yet, it fought back. It fought. It rose to the occasion.

That’s why this relegation playoff shouldn’t be seen as a punishment, but as an opportunity. A second chance. A real shot at staying where this club deserves to be.

The opponent will be Real Madrid C, a young, talented, and demanding reserve team. But it’s also a team we can compete with—if there’s one thing this Estepona side has shown in tough times, it’s character.

Now there are no more calculations or third-party results. There are only two matches. Two finals. And one goal.

The fans have to rise to the occasion, as they always have. Support, cheer, and believe. Because if this team has proven one thing, it’s that when all seems lost, it’s still capable of responding.

Soccer owes CD Estepona one. And now is the time to collect.