Racing Santander head coach Jose Alberto has brushed aside any external noise as he confirmed his side will form a guard of honour for Barcelona, describing the gesture as simple professionalism and respect for footballing achievement.
With the Catalan giants arriving fresh from title success, the Racing boss made it clear that tradition and good manners still matter, regardless of opinion.
“I don’t care at all what others think,” he told the media. “We are professionals, and it is a club’s duty to form a guard of honor for any team that has won a title, whether it’s Barca, Madrid, Atletico… whoever it may be.”
While the moment of respect will precede kick-off, Alberto was quick to shift focus to Racing’s broader objectives.
As the season enters a decisive phase, promotion remains the overriding target, and the coach admitted that domestic priorities slightly outweigh the immediate cup challenge.
“We have an important match on Sunday, and for us, the priority is the league; our goal is to try to get promoted. We have focused more on preparing for the weekend’s match than tomorrow’s game.”
That admission underlines the balancing act Racing face. Progressing in the cup would be welcome, but not at the expense of their long-term ambition to return to the top flight.
Even so, the gaffer insisted his team will not roll over once the whistle blows, stressing that belief and intensity can still tilt the contest.
“If we are at our best level, we can overcome the tie, because once the ball starts rolling, everything evens out. We have a 50% chance of winning.”
The Racing manager will watch proceedings from the stands after being sent off in the previous tie against Villarreal, but that has not dampened his pride in the journey the club has taken under his leadership.
He also highlighted the renewed bond with supporters who have endured years away from the biggest stages.
“Our fans have been, speaking frankly, putting up with crap for 13 years. Over these years, we have faced teams like Arenas de Getxo or Gernika far more often, with all due respect, than the best teams, which are the teams we must face.”
As Barcelona and Racing Santander prepare to lock horns, the stage is set for a compelling cup night.
Respect will be shown, ambitions will collide, and once the ball starts rolling, attention will turn solely to who earns the right to celebrate when it matters most.
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