News
MON 18.04.2016
It feels like a long time since that first night at the Meson 5 Jotas restaurant on Calle del Padre Damian, spent talking with my fellow competition winners – though our relationship is now somewhat more than that – about South American players who have graced LaLiga. Some legendary names came up such as Ivan Zamorano, Hugo Sanchez and Claudio Lopez, alongside lesser lights including Oscar Dertycia, the mention of whom didn't bring back fond memories for a Real Madrid-supporting friend of one of the organisers.
That first evening, with a menu including salmorejo tomato soup and a presa pork speciality, washed down with La Rioja wine, and the first of many conversations about football, was a prelude of what was to come.
By the time you read this, I'll be back in Chile. I'll probably be a bit tired after three days in which my excitement and eagerness to enjoy the experience to the max kept my body going strong. Memories from this trip are bouncing around my mind. I'd be hard-pressed to sum it up in just a few words – as hard as it would be to forget the guided tours of the Calderon and the Bernabeu, the atmosphere during Rayo Vallecano's training session at Vallecas (the Venezuelan in the group told us that they won through a Miku goal; good on them!) or the rousing welcome we got from the Granada CF and Atletico Madrid supporters' clubs on Saturday when we went to Bodegas Rosell for dinner.
We didn't just savour the experience: we feasted like kings. Aubergines, croquettes, tuna, traditional 'granny's-style' potatoes, arroz a banda (rice with seafood), delicious desserts… the lavish spreads had all we could ask for and more; our friends at LaLiga took great care of us.
However, the thing we were hungriest for was football – and there was plenty of that to boot. We got our footballing fill on the stadium tours, in our talks during meals and while we wandered around Madrid's beautiful historic centre.
Still, the highlight was undoubtedly what we experienced from 4 pm on Sunday in and around the Vicente Calderon. There was a big-day feel in the air. After two cloudy days, the sun had come out and a crunch game in the LaLiga title race was on the cards. Real Madrid had won the day before and Atletico had to deliver to keep putting the pressure on Barcelona. The crowd knew as much and were in full voice from the first minute. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the best South American stadiums and the team fed off the fans' support. The match was pulsating enough, and then there was the surprise the organisers had up their sleeves afterwards.
With the game over, we had the stadium pretty much all to ourselves… until the Atletico players started walking out of the tunnel and towards us. We couldn't believe it. Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, Antoine Griezmann, Gabi, Oliver, Fernando Torres… they all stopped by, smiles on their faces, to have pictures taken with us and sign our shirts. I can't stop thinking about what my cousin's expression will be when he sees that I've brought him a signed Koke shirt. I'll tell him that the experience wasn't a dream come true – it was a fairy tale.
© LALIGA - 2016