MADRID - Balding bank manager Pablo Infante has outscored Lionel Messi to fire tiny Mirandes into a King's Cup semifinal against Athletic Bilbao today, without skipping a day's work at his suit-and-tie office job in northern Spain.
The 31-year-old is the Cup top scorer with seven goals, including six from their giant-killing victories over Villarreal, Racing Santander and Espanyol, and his third-tier club are on the brink of a possible final meeting with either Barcelona or Valencia.
Infante scored and set up their dramatic injury-time winner to knock out Espanyol in the quarterfinals last week, and was carried off the pitch on the shoulders of ecstatic fans. A few hours later, he was opening the doors to his bank at 8am with television cameras waiting to greet him.
Infante has become the unlikely hero of Mirandes's fairytale Cup run, which has been all the more impressive as they have beaten top-flight sides over two legs three times. The fact Infante has to dash back from the away legs in his car overnight to be back in time for his day job has caught the imagination of the country.
"I'm here seven hours a day, eight until three. It's in the afternoon when I immerse myself in my other job," Infante told regional newspaper Deia. "This media attention is down to the work of everyone at the club. I've perhaps received the most attention, but I take it the same as everything else, calmly.
"I understand this is a business, that when things go well you are on a real high, but when they go badly you are criticised and brought back down to earth."
Today's first leg is in the small industrial town of Miranda de Ebro. Bilbao are sixth in La Liga, boast two Spanish World Cup winners in Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez, and are coached by Argentine Marcelo Bielsa. Infante said: "I would say it is a 99% chance for them to win and 1% for us, but we have hope and enthusiasm and won't give it up easily."
The second semifinal tie sees Barcelona visit Valencia tomorrow, with Pep Guardiola's side suffering an injury crisis and, judging by their last two outings, a dip in form.
Giant-killers win hearts
MADRID - Balding bank manager Pablo Infante has outscored Lionel Messi to fire tiny Mirandes into a King's Cup semifinal against Athletic Bilbao today, without skipping a day's work at his suit-and-tie office job in northern Spain.
The 31-year-old is the Cup top scorer with seven goals, including six from their giant-killing victories over Villarreal, Racing Santander and Espanyol, and his third-tier club are on the brink of a possible final meeting with either Barcelona or Valencia.
Infante scored and set up their dramatic injury-time winner to knock out Espanyol in the quarterfinals last week, and was carried off the pitch on the shoulders of ecstatic fans. A few hours later, he was opening the doors to his bank at 8am with television cameras waiting to greet him.
Infante has become the unlikely hero of Mirandes's fairytale Cup run, which has been all the more impressive as they have beaten top-flight sides over two legs three times. The fact Infante has to dash back from the away legs in his car overnight to be back in time for his day job has caught the imagination of the country.
"I'm here seven hours a day, eight until three. It's in the afternoon when I immerse myself in my other job," Infante told regional newspaper Deia. "This media attention is down to the work of everyone at the club. I've perhaps received the most attention, but I take it the same as everything else, calmly.
"I understand this is a business, that when things go well you are on a real high, but when they go badly you are criticised and brought back down to earth."
Today's first leg is in the small industrial town of Miranda de Ebro. Bilbao are sixth in La Liga, boast two Spanish World Cup winners in Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez, and are coached by Argentine Marcelo Bielsa. Infante said: "I would say it is a 99% chance for them to win and 1% for us, but we have hope and enthusiasm and won't give it up easily."
The second semifinal tie sees Barcelona visit Valencia tomorrow, with Pep Guardiola's side suffering an injury crisis and, judging by their last two outings, a dip in form.
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