Imanol’s mindset shift turns Real Sociedad into Copa contenders | OneFootball

Imanol Alguacil’s mindset reset has transformed Real Sociedad’s Copa del Rey fortunes, shifting the club from bit-part to standard-bearer.

According to Diario Vasco, the hinge moment came on 18 December 2019 before facing Becerril, after format changes opened round one to regional teams. Real travelled to the Nueva Balestera in Palencia, while Tolosa hosted Valladolid in Berazubi.

Alguacil’s message jarred with predecessors. He played down divisions between categories, stressed respect for the badge, prepared it like Barcelona, took 18 first-team players and said humility and passion would be matched, adding that if La Real kept their level they would have many chances.

Real won 0-8, and later lifted the 19/20 Copa.

Nearly three years on, before Cazalegas, he called that Becerril tie a before-and-after moment and said he treated it with Europa League seriousness.

The numbers support it. From losing the 87/88 final to the 19/20 triumph, La Real passed 23 ties, four against top-flight sides. Since then they have gone through 31, a high for that period, mostly single-leg, with two of five exits over two legs, to Mallorca on penalties and Real Madrid after extra time.

Over the last eight years they have not been knocked out by lower-tier opposition. Previously they suffered 16 such exits, six to Segunda B sides.

In 31 years they had reached one semi-final, in 13/14 against Barcelona under Jagoba Arrasate. Now they have made three in succession, trading past embarrassments for statement wins and ending a 36-year shootout drought against Osasuna.

Source: Diario Vasco