Friday, May 18th, 2012
In the first of two articles written by Spanish journalists, Javier Lázaro from Telemadrid gives us an insight into the mood in the capital before the big game.
Since the day Pep Guardiola became Barcelona manager, his team have won all four clásicos; 2-0 and 1-0 in the Camp Nou and 2-6 and 0-2 in the Santiago Bernabeu. Managing a record-breaking Real Madrid team, Manuel Pelligrini’s side only had one obstacle they couldn’t overcome, Barcelona. If Real Madrid had won one of their two matches against Barcelona they would have won the championship
The clásico, especially the second one, has been the determining factor in the last two league titles won by Barcelona. On both occasions the second tie was played in the Santiago Bernabéu and it seems the tale could be repeated this season. Once again both sides are so equally matched that it seems the championship will be decided by the six points available when the two sides meet.
The Mourinho Factor
One of the best collection of Real Madrid players ever have the best ever Barcelona side as their enemy. Stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema were at Real Madrid last season but the results against Barcelona didn’t change. The reason Real Madrid have lost the recent ties with their biggest rivals is in part down to the psychological fear Guardiola has created in the club named the best club of the twentieth century.
This season, something has changed on Concha Espina street. Real Madrid now visit the Camp Nou with the Mourinho factor. Mourinho doesn’t play the match but he creates as much fear in the opposition as any of the Real Madrid players. So far the Portuguese manager hasn’t lost a match in charge. There have been four draws, 2 in the league and 2 in cup competitions, and 17 victories. In many of those victories Real Madrid have overcome problems that would have lead to defeat in previous seasons. In previous clásicos, Juande Ramos and Manuel Pelligrini could only watch on in matches, which at times, seemed like men against boys. Signings such as Khedira, Ozil, Di Maria, Carvalho, Pedro Leon or Canales could have had a different mentality if it hadn’t been for the arrival of Mourinho at the club.
The Portuguese coach guarantees a spectacle both on the park and in the press conferences. He is an agitator with supporters of other teams, criticizes his own players in public, argues with other managers and has even been accused, by Pep Guardiola’s assistant, of never talking of football. That being said, his players love him and his teams are winners. Mourinho creates a close knit group in which everyone knows their job. Nobody complains, everyone is happy and the group is always the winner in both easy and difficult times. As Emilio Butragueño said, Real haven’t signed Mourinho to make friends but to win titles and that appears to be happening. Of course they haven’t won anything yet and maybe they won’t win anything this year but they are going to be very close and very difficult to beat.
A close contest
The match will be decided by small details with the most likely result being a goalless draw or a slender win. Last season it took a brilliant cross combined with a great Ibrahimovic finish to defeat a well organised Real Madrid side who could have won if Cristiano Ronaldo had scored with a glorious chance. The difference can be so tight at times.
Barcelona and Real Madrid go into the clásico with very little between them. The Blaugrana are a settled team. They know each other other very well, are confident and as the home side they are favourites. On the field the teams are almost identical to previous matches, however, the difference is that Barcelona’s mental advantage has disappeared. It seems Barça need all their best players fit while for Real Madrid it’s not important who plays as everyone has the right attitude thanks to Mourinho.
We are of course speaking about two very different playing styles. Barcelona will press Real Madrid all over the pitch as they seek to have as much possession as possible. They will aim to attack Real Madrid and defend as little as possible. Real Madrid face a match requiring maximum concentration. They cannot allow themselves to make a simple mistake because Barcelona will punish them. They will also have to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to them by the Barcelona defenders.
Next Monday’s game will undoubtedly be influenced by the two star players on show, Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentine is a team player who passes the ball and makes those round about him better. He is playing at home on a pitch he knows like the back of his hand. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, is selfish player more interested in his own performance than that of the team. However his goals help the team and he has a personal score to settle in the Camp Nou. He hasn’t scored a goal in this stadium, in fact he missed a penalty there as a Manchester United player.
On Monday 29th November at 21.00 Spain will come to a halt as everyone watches the most important match of the 2010/2011 season so far. Half the championship is at stake. Mourinho has given Real Madrid back the optimism lost some years ago. A bit like money and happiness Mourinho doesn’t assure victory but he helps to get it
Tags: El Clásico, Guardiola, Jose Mourinho
