I write this from Barcelona, where I find a football demoralization consistent with the old communication channels with Real Madrid. The success of one corresponds to the failure of the other. If we take a closer look, the contrasts seem to have wreaked havoc on this occasion.
But let’s put perspective. Last season, Barça was the champion, 10 points ahead of Madrid, which also left out of the Champions League with a resounding 4-0 defeat of City.
Real Madrid responded to that challenge with the signing of Bellingham and some players who arrived to complete the squad: Brahim, Arda Güler, Fran García… Seen from here, all useful. In terms of losses, it should be noted that Benzema, a world-class striker, left. The number 9 shirt was left empty waiting for better times. Joselu arrived, on loan for 1.5 million and ended up being a great protagonist.
If the opposing area lost its owner, so did their own because Courtois, the best goalkeeper in the world when it comes to saving, fell with a serious injury. Arrizabalaga arrived to replace him, but the one who won the contest for the starting position was Lunin, initially the third goalkeeper and another of the players who the season established as a hero.
More misfortunes: the starting centre-backs fell with very serious injuries, to the point that they could not be relevant throughout the season. No one came to compensate for the losses, which seemed irresponsible. Here Ancelotti’s figure begins to grow because on the outside he did not lose his smile (optimism brings energy in dramatic football) and on the inside he looked for alternatives that responded in a big way. Nacho went from luxury substitute to luxury starter, Rüdiger went from player to idol and Tchouameni, even without being very happy, took charge of the minimum services in cases of need. One more proof that, in this Madrid, the team triumphs over the individual. On the other hand, Kroos and Modric were no longer complementary: due to the imperative of age there was only room for one of the two in the midfield. Critical loss if we look at the influence of both one and the other in the last ten years. So far, everything that Madrid did not have. But, as we know, this club has serious problems with the law of probabilities.
Many years ago I accepted a phrase that a taxi driver from Seville told me: “Eleven good ones beat eleven worse ones.” This season’s Madrid corrected me: good, worse and a great coach, they are capable of anything. To help with so many shortcomings, Ancelotti took from the drawer of history a phrase by Alfredo Di Stéfano that he made his own: “No player is more important than all of them together.” Professionalism, demand, competitiveness, ability to adapt to all types of matches, zero divisions, zero conflicts, zero controversies. Team spirit.
Are there really as many differences as perception says between Barça and Madrid? Or it is the culé victimhood and confusion that magnifies the contrast.
Without the shock wave of the Decimoquinta celebration fading, Mbappé arrived to add media and football power to the club. Kylian just has to understand that he comes to fill the number 9 shirt that was patiently waiting for him, but that, at this moment and in this club, he will only be the best by being like Alfredo, one more. Among many teams that wanted him, Madrid chose; Despite a lot of money they offered him, he won’t mind earning less in Madrid. Surely because in this season full of difficulties and crowned with unexpected successes, he will have understood, like Bellingham, that Madrid not only pays in glory, but also pays in cash.
You can follow The USA Print in Facebook and xor sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.
_
