For Juan José Rojo Martín, known on Spanish shores as Pacheta, positivity is the priority.
In the space of four days, Real Valladolid almost doubled their points tally, and almost doubled their goals scored. An electrifying 4-1 win over Celta Vigo, followed by an equally impressive victory against high-flyers Real Sociedad, has seen the newly-promoted side shoot up the table, to the relative safety of 11th place.
Pucela’s purple patch has felt purpler than ever at the Jose Zorrila, and deflections won’t fly goal-bound, or corners land flush on foreheads forever. Even so, as Valladolid’s tireless, track-suited tactician bounced up and down the touchline in the torrential rain once more on Sunday, battling against the elements alongside his team, these two results have felt ferociously deserved, even if the xG calculations don’t quite add up.
The unrelenting optimism of Pacheta has captured imaginations before, as his arrival at beleaguered bottom-side Huesca in 2021 almost inspired an incredible escape, before final-day heartbreak sent his spirited side down. Despite having spent 24 consecutive matchdays in the bottom three, Rojo Martín’s plucky side took more shots than Valencia and Villarreal, and only six shots on target fewer than fourth-placed Sevilla. “With conviction, with facts, with energy”, in the manager’s own words, “you need to convince your players that you have no doubts”.
18-months down the line, and different players in different colours are charging around with that same self-belief. As Los Blanquivioletas welcomed La Real to Castile and Leon, the visitors having won their last eight games in a row, it only took 16 minutes for Sergio Leon to tear forwards, and smash home his third goal of the week, his fifth in five. Just four days earlier, the 33-year-old had been benched, before he came on, scored, missed a penalty, and then scored again, in a show of defiance that has come to define Pachetismo itself.
In an earlier victory at Getafe, eight of Valladolid’s 10 outfield players had taken a shot by the time the final whistle blew. Even in defeat to Cádiz, Pacheta’s men let fly sixteen times, and in a convincing defeat to Villarreal, forced six saves from the Yellow Submarine. Almost by sheer force of will, it feels as if Real Valladolid have shoved, barged and roared their way to goals, points and wins.
With a tricky trip to Osasuna up next, a side who like to suffocate and stifle opponents at El Sadar, it would be a surprise to see Pucela run riot in the rain as they have this week. But isn’t it refreshing to have Pacheta’s enthusiasm, ambition, fearlessness and fight back in LaLiga once again.