The Asturian language has a specific word for the boredom that abundance can cause: refalfie (from the verb to refalfiar). This is the best way to describe what happened on 17 September 1987, when what was probably the best Milan in history – with Gullit, Van Basten, Maldini and Baresi in the squad and Sacchi as coach – travelled to Gijón to face Sporting in the first round of the UEFA Cup. 18,000 people attended. At that time, El Molinón could hold just over 40,000 spectators. It was the fifth time in nine years that the Asturian team had taken part in the European competition.
And the Sporting fans arrived at the event with a certain amount of excitement about success. refalfie —Asturian, it is understood—by the book. Although the Eurosporting would achieve a new qualification to play in Europe in 1991, the team that captivated thousands of red-and-white fans was beginning to show slight signs of the end of a glorious era in which it managed to play in two Copa del Rey finals, was runner-up in the League and had in its ranks a top scorer – Quini, on three occasions – and the goalkeeper who had conceded the fewest goals – Ablanedo, on another three.
The red and white sky (Hoja de lata), is an elegant, complete, measured chronicle, peppered with humor, irony and pertinent cultural references and very well written by the Asturian journalist Rafa Quirós. A sky that began to be stormed the day it was decided to invest the money from Churruca’s transfer to Athletic in building the Mareo Football School – there, in the 76-77 season, Quirós begins a story that covers up to 1992 – and that was consolidated on board a bus driven by José Antonio Vázquez Quintana, who was as much a part of the team as Joaquín – 644 official matches with the same shirt -, Ferrero, Maceda or Jiménez. With a saint’s calendar that was renewed with Luis Enrique, Eloy, Abelardo, Manjarín or Juanele. With a president – Vega-Arango – who seemed to come out of a movie. The story of an era so brilliant and so unique that to refalfiar It was, in addition to an Asturian concept, a mere question of time.
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