There is a strange kind of relief that comes with failure in football, and this is one of those moments. Exiting the Copa del Rey early may sting, but it also removes one of the most uncomfortable rituals the game has to offer: giving a guard of honour to another team.
A guard of honour is meant to show respect, but when it is forced upon a losing rival, it often feels less like sportsmanship and more like public humiliation. Players line up, clap politely, and swallow their pride while the opposition basks in recent success. For fans, it can be even harder to watch than the defeat itself.
By crashing out of the Copa del Rey, that particular embarrassment is avoided entirely. There will be no ceremonial applause, no awkward smiles, and no painful reminder of what might have been. Instead, attention can shift back to rebuilding, refocusing, and fixing the problems that led to elimination in the first place.
Football has a cruel sense of humor. Sometimes, when everything seems to be going wrong, it still finds a way to spare you one small discomfort. Missing out on silverware hurts, but missing out on a guard of honour can feel like a quiet win in disguise.
In a season full of frustration, fans will take whatever consolation they can get. And if that consolation comes in the form of avoiding an awkward walk of respect for someone else’s triumph, so be it.
