Should Starters Play in the Copa del Rey?

The previous match against Marbella came at the right moment, after the mini-winter break in the league, and there was a whole week until the league match against Osasuna. It was no problem for players like Griezmann and Alvarez, who play more frequently, to join this clash. However, for the upcoming match against Elche, things are different. The match is during the week, between two very important league games where we cannot afford mistakes. Fortunately, we won against Osasuna, but the away game at Leganes will not be any easier. After all, every team at the bottom of the table relies on their home games to earn points.

Against Elche, we can win with players who don’t regularly take part. However, if we win, there is almost a 100% chance we’ll face one of the top teams in Spain, potentially even Real Madrid or Barcelona. A tougher scenario would be overcoming this and the next round, only to face one of these two teams in a two-legged semi-final. Then, the workload will increase significantly. I hope we field a team consisting entirely of players who don’t get as many minutes, like Musso, Azpi, Witsel, Correa, Sorloth, and even captain Koke. I also hope we fully rest key players with more consistent minutes, like Oblak, Griezmann, Alvarez, Galan, Barrios, and de Paul.

I’m confident that the coaching staff is fully aware of the physical condition of the main players. In my opinion, at this stage, we should strategically minimize efforts in the cup and not risk the regular starters there. We should preserve them for the tough battles in the league and the Champions League. Right now, there is no easy league match, regardless of the opponent, and players need to give 101% to earn points. At this stage, I hope that in the next round, we’ll have more manageable opponents who can be eliminated by players with fewer minutes. For them, these matches are a welcome opportunity.

At this stage, cup matches allow Simeone to rotate the squad and keep more players in form, which is a positive aspect of these games. If we overcome Elche, further rotation will depend on the next opponent. We could potentially reach the quarter-finals solely through player rotations, which would benefit everyone. However, the negatives follow. The semi-finals are played over a long period of time, during which it will become clear whether we have a chance for the league title and how far we have advanced in the Champions League. Tentative dates are February 25th and April 4th. Particularly the first one could fall after a tough Champions League match.

My conclusion from these reflections is that the effort, which could bring a trophy, is worth it under certain circumstances. These circumstances could include reaching the top 8 in the Champions League group stage to skip a round, building a points gap over La Liga title contenders, and avoiding injuries. We should do everything possible to reach the Copa del Rey semi-final with minimal effort and without risking starters. From there, decisions should be based on the team’s situation and the factors mentioned, such as other tournaments and player injuries. I believe it could be a good opportunity for a trophy this season, as long as we don’t jeopardize the team’s performance in other competitions.