Madrid look better than they have in over a decade, is La Decima on it's way?
It seems that for the past several years this blog makes the
case for Real Madrid to win the Champions League. Three semi-final appearances
under Mourinho showed how close the side was, yet whether it be the curse of La
Decima or a sense that Madrid were second to Barca, ‘unfortunate’ to go out on
penalties or lacking harmony as a club last season, they just never seemed to
have what it took to get over that line. One would imagine that had Mourinho
reached the final he would have won it, his record in finals is sublime. Yet if
‘Mr Champions League’ could not do it, why should Madrid be considered
favourites now? Well it appears that Madrid are a better side this season than
they have been under Mourinho, much to do with their new coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Three Champions League finals with Milan, winning two, is as good a record as any other coach in the 21st century. It is the the same
as Ferguson with United (08-11), Barca won three finals yet with two different
coaches and Bayern reached three finals yet only won once.
The elusive three successes of the 21st century is available, with Mourinho, Ancelotti
and Guardiola all able and challenging for this honour. Their three clubs; Chelsea,
Real and Bayern all have a great chance of winning the tournament this season. Yet it is
Madrid who appear the most likely.
The curse of Sacchi
Bayern are unquestionably the best side in world football at
this time, Guardiola has added new elements which has made them
more dominant than last season. His experience and talent in the competition
certainly makes them favourites for many, however there is the concern that no side has
won back-to-back Champions League’s since Sacchi’s Milan last doing it in
1989/1990 (when it was the European Cup).
Since then there have been sides who
have had the opportunity yet none has been able to retain their title; Capello’s
Milan, Van Gaal’s Ajax, Lippi’s Juve and United in 2009.
It used to be common to
see clubs dominate Europe for two or three years; Madrid, Ajax, Bayern, Liverpool,
Forest. When a side was on top they usually stayed there. However with the rise
of the transfer market and the increase in television European football has
changed markedly. And with that clubs have struggled to truly show their
dominance in Europe.
Bayern look like a side who could make history, yet Barca
were a better side and still failed to retain their trophy. Cal it the ‘curse
of Sacchi’ or merely the increased strength of football’s elite. It will not be easy for Bayern.
The other contenders
Chelsea have Mourinho yet this is not a world class side and
even a world class coach will struggle to get them to the final. Barca are the
same, the club in a form of existential crisis. PSG appear to have the tools to
succeed yet do they have the players and coach capable of going all the way? Dortmund aren't what they were last season. Which is
why you must consider Real Madrid as the favourites.
Real Madrid have been striving for their 10th
European crown for over a decade now. Their wish to make this happen led to an
era of mediocrity for the club because their Galacticos project proved a
relative failure. Florentino Perez can be criticised for Madrid’s poor decade yet since 2009 there is no doubt that the team has been built with more balance. Mourinho certainly helped build that yet the side this season has as good a balance and
leadership since Del Bosque.
That says a lot about what Perez has
done with the club yet also the issues Mourinho brought. There was no doubt
that Mourinho brought defensive strength and balance to the side, building the
team to be a ruthless counter attacking side. However his personal issues and
agenda with Barcelona and Guardiola (the man who was chosen over him for the
Barca job in 2008) clouded his judgement and seriously affected the club.
It
became too much a theatre and too much about Mourinho. His departure was
necessary as the club appeared to be in a crisis and imploding. However the new
arrival would prove a better character of a club the size of Madrid.
Harmony and balance
Carlo Ancelotti had played and coached for one of Europe’s
biggest sides in Milan, as well as coaching The Old Lady Juventus. He had the
knowledge of what was expected of a top coach at a top side. Arguably Mourinho preferred
to be at a ‘medium’ club, thriving on the underdog mentality. Yet Madrid did not
think of itself as an underdog.
The new coach has come in and brought harmony,
balance and a worryingly ruthlessness to the side. At this time they sit top of
La Liga and are 6-1 ahead in their first leg tie to Schalke. It’s all looking
very good, yet it has taken a while to get it right.
The pursuit of Gareth Bale was distracting and perhaps
unnccessary for Madrid, Ancelotti did not think that £100m was necessary to
spend on one player. However Perez was desperate to make it happen and he most
often gets what he wishes.
The departure of Mesut Ozil came as a surprise to
the players and coach, perhaps it was a case of having to make money back for Bale
or was it a case of not needing Ozil? There is an argument to say that although
he was excellent for Madrid and provided many assists, he was not helping the
side in the biggest games as he failed to offer defensive balance, often
leaving the two man midfield exposed.
It was perhaps why Modric was bought the
summer before and why Isco was brought in 2013. Although Isco started for
Madrid it was clearly not ‘working’ effectively. Ancelotti was struggling to
find the balance to make the team work. He was evidently trying to fit pieces
into holes that didn’t fit.
As he has grown to know the squad he has found a
formation which works better for the side and found three ‘unlikely’ key
members. You could put Benzema’s performances in this bracket yet it always
seemed a case of making the system work for him which Mourinho often struggled
to do, putting too much on Ronaldo.
No, the three key players for this Ancelotti
system has been Luka Modric, Angel Di Maria and Jese. Modric has thrived in a
three man midfield, controlling games with ease and setting the tempo superbly.
He is becoming the world class player he always promised he could be.
Di Maria
was rumoured to be out this past summer as he was deemed surplus with Bale
arriving, however he has evolved his role in the side to stay relevant and very
surprisingly has become a very talented central midfielder. His work rate and
tackling is impressive for a ‘flair’ winger which is why he has fell in to that
role well. It has been impressive and has helped the side in their 4-3-3 style.
As for Jese, an Academy graduate who has been promising much talent needed the
opportunity and Ancelotti has offered it to him. A chance which has thrived on.
So much so that he has kept Bale out of play at times.
Ancelotti has also made the defence stronger and more
secure. The rotation of Casillas and Diego Lopez would negatively affect
many sides yet it seems to work for Madrid. Even Pepe looks stronger this
season (perhaps free of the drama and games which Mourinho made him take part in).
Not even top gear
In the game against Schalke (in which they awful) Madrid
showed why they are the most threatening side in Europe at this time. When you have three players who are sharing
an abundance of goals (Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale have scored over 70 goals
together) then you frighten the opposition. It is not a case of being able to
double up on one man because all three can punish.
At times this season Madrid
have not been great yet Ronaldo or Bale come up with a wondershot to secure the
points. Goals come in a variety of ways and this points to a side who could
defeat all others in Europe.
The Schalke game was too easy, and Madrid didn't need to do much to score six. Incredible when you think about it. The side just has the ability to score goals. Yes the German side were near
abysmal however Madrid proved their credentials once more. Ronaldo appears
obsessed with being the top scorer as well as lifting the trophy, yet it is
Ancelotti who is the difference maker. It will be between him and Guardiola who
lifts the trophy this season. Both clubs likely on for a treble.
This weekend Madrid
face their rivals Atletico with a win putting them six points clear of Simeone’s
men. All looks very well at Madrid this season, the cloud of Mourinho is lifted
from them and Ancelotti with Zidane has brought a new approach and mindset to
the club. It certainly looks more harmonious, they are much quieter in what
they do, yet they appear better and stronger than anytime under Mourinho. After three
years of semi-final exits, could this be the season they get past the line and
bring La Decima to the Bernabeau? This blog believes so.
The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address
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- An Ugly End to the Mourinho Era
- Und Keine Ausnahmen
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