Dreams and Setbacks in a Young Player’s Career
Simply wanting something with all one’s heart does not guarantee success. Life isn’t a simple spell that cures every doubt, and it isn’t like emotional self-help tricks. Even in sports, where total commitment can matter a lot, fate can still throw obstacles in the path. Sergi Molina has long dreamed of making his mark with his hometown club. He mapped out the steps to turn that dream into reality, yet the chance has slipped away for now, and fortune has not aligned in his favor.
The Hércules academy product remains the only first team player with a professional record who has not yet logged a single minute this season. Another talented right back, David Lopez-Guerrero, still holds the same situation with the clock not ticking on his professional debut. The centre-back is showing resilience in his return despite the demands of both life and sport.
His last full match came on November 14, 2021. He traveled with the team as a coach at that time. Sergio Mora prepared to face Calvo Sotelo in Puertollano. After Aketxe managed to level at the 88th minute, a late concession sealed the defeat and highlighted the mistakes that let La Mancha seize the goal. After that day, Mora stopped being called up, went back to the reserve squad, and then suffered a serious knee injury.
He did not play another league match at the start of 2022 due to the knee injury
Mora made his league debut against Intercity on the second matchday, appearing for five minutes on Antonio Solana. In the following week Carlos David joined the field for half an hour. By the fourth match, he began forming a tandem with Diego Jiménez in Alzira. The 4-0 win over Luis Suñer Picó kept them in contention until the 11th matchday.
The narrative that follows is a tale of persistent challenges and shocks faced by a young player who needed funds to travel again. He confronted an injury bearing resemblance to the one currently affecting a well-known Barça and national team star. The rehabilitation stretched longer than expected and did not reach completion until nearly a year later.
Lolo Escobar expressed trust in him and convinced Torrecilla to give him a chance before the season began
When recovery arrived, the young athlete had to relearn every basic movement. He had to walk, run, push off, jump without fear, and pivot on the grass all over again, without letting residual pain linger in memory. He did not faint; he remained present, even though he had not yet played a match. With a medical discharge in hand, he contributed to lifting training levels — a task that many overlooked but was essential for reaching team goals. Lolo Escobar observed his effort and wanted to give him a shot, yet the team’s situation and the bottom-half league position limited opportunities. On the final day, stepping onto the grass for just two minutes helped decide cup qualification. A single, 60-second appearance became the coach’s way to acknowledge his sacrifice.
2 MINUTES
Has Sergi Molina played in the last two years?
His last full game was on November 14, 2021. Lolo Escobar gave him 60 seconds on the last day in Ibiza.
23 YEARS
The young player celebrated his birthday on July 21. He received one of the professional cards after renewing his contract in the summer.
Sergi Molina faced a pivotal choice after leaving the under-23 phase. The Alicante coach later told him that trust existed before he arrived. Torrecilla did not deceive him, taking him to court in the summer, and, like the previous staff, encouraged him before the season. The technical office offered continuity, but the Alicante player did not accept. He managed to stand out from a club where expectations were lower. He could have stood against the standard bearing of the entity, yet he didn’t—he bet on himself. Every morning he arrived at Fontnivel. Being in the squad did not console him. The young Molina longs to enjoy football, earn a living through the sport, and play for life at his club, but if not here, it will be somewhere else, much like Dani Marín, who left a lasting impression on many observers.
Sagunto expects the visit of at least 100 Hércules supporters this Sunday
The Sagunto club and the management team in the Roma city project are confident that a sizable wave of Hércules fans will travel to back the Alicante squad at the Nou Camp de Morvedre on Sunday. Unlike the Mestalla derby where a cap on visiting supporters was imposed, Sagunto does not limit the number of tickets for visiting fans. Tickets can be bought at the stadium box office for a fixed price of 15 euros per person. Travel options include individual transport, private car, or organized trips arranged by the blue and white supporters. One organized trip is run by the Unidad Hércumana group, with the bus fare set at 13.5 euros. The 15 euro stadium entry is bought directly at the Nou Camp de Morvedre. Last year, around 100 Alicante supporters joined the trip, and the club’s board hopes for a similar turnout again. By early in the week, 90 passes had already been allocated to meet the request for Hércules to access the Torrecilla block on the synthetic surface. This shows the strong link between the two clubs and the shared passion for the game. [citation]”