There are many examples of the collapse of the former powerhouse in the professional football world, and it is fortunate to be able to stabilize the position, not to mention that there is a hometown hero who does not hesitate to pay millions out of his own pocket to return to the nest, and in the key battle to fulfill the promise of promotion, what more can I ask for - in the first group of the Spanish Conference Liga (that is, the third division of Spain) on Tuesday, Deportivo La Coruna scored a wonderful penalty at home with 35-year-old goalscorer Lucas Pérez (Lucas Pérez) to defeat Barcelona B 1-0, In the remaining two rounds, the opponent opened up 7 points to lock the championship and direct promotion qualification, a year late, but finally did what he said!
Speaking of Deportivo La Coruna, some people remember that they dominated La Liga in the 1999/2000 season, and others remember that they beat AC Milan in the second leg of the 2003/04 Champions League quarter-finals to advance by four goals. Bebeto, Rivaldo, Jaminia, Tristan, Roy Mackay, Scaloni – there are many classic players who have been relegated from La Liga in 2017/18 and relegated to another level two years later. Therefore, when Lucas Perez, a striker who used to play for Arsenal and West Ham United, announced his "homecoming" from Cadiz in La Liga in January last year (there were still 3 goals scored in the half season of La Liga), and even did not hesitate to pay half of the transfer fee of about 493,000 euros (more than 3.86 million yuan) and a significant salary cut, Laco fans all supported this hometown hero. "I told my friends, a four-year-old kid who used to play football on the streets of Coruna, had a dream that drove me to go home now. I'm not a star, just Lucas, who grew up in the Monelos community, and I'm not here to save anything, just to help. ”
Despite eight goals in the first half of the season, the team finished fourth and were eliminated by CD Castellón in a 4-4 draw over two legs in the first round of the play-offs. "It's a sad day. I sincerely apologize to the fans, nothing can break my heart more, it leaves me speechless, and I empathize with the confusion and loss of all the fans in the city. We can only move forward with our heads held high and continue to fight. ”
In addition to the team's determination to bring in a number of experienced players in La Liga last summer, including former Bilbao defender Mikel Balenziaga, former Mallorcan midfielder Salva Sevilla and former Alaves right-back Ximo Navarro, the team has a record 28,500 season ticket holders (Riazor has only 32,490 at home) As a result, Lucas Perez also did his homework, scoring 12 goals and providing 17 assists in 30 games, fulfilling his dreams for himself and his fans. "I'm very happy to be with Deportivo La Coruna again for professional football. When you're excited to be home, it's natural to imagine that good things have come true, and now you can finally enjoy the joy that surrounds you. Although he also admitted that his contract expires at the end of the season and the future is uncertain, this heroic deed is sure to live on in the hearts of fans.