Man. City v Real Madrid: Life, like football, is all about the little details... [ENG/ESP]
Each year, each season, it seems, no matter when you read this, Real Madrid will always be among the top 4 teams in the UEFA Champions League; this time, leaving behind what I still believe to be the best and most eye-catching team in football; and yes, I am referring to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City FC. We have witnessed a Champions League quarter-final series that is not only epic, but one that is essentially good for football. In an age where streaming platforms, fast, cheap, disposable entertainment is everything; a beautiful, intelligent, tactical sport needed these clashes: distinct style, power, and football, gentlemen, football....
Before posting in this niche, I read several match reports, several brilliant and intelligent opinions, but I feel that in a certain way they all repeat; in essence, the same thing: "Real Madrid advanced from the round; the Kings of Europe". And I, as a Real Madrid fan, have seen for the last year and a half how things have changed. You will all know that in last season's semi-finals, City destroyed us at the Etihad Stadium. This year, just like last year, we drew at home. 3-3. We were left with that bitter taste; it looked like the "movie" was about to repeat itself.
Rodri, City's stats in Manchester, Guardiola's record against Real, the fact that we have never won in that stadium (and still haven't); in other words all things indicated that either we could not eliminate them (in reference to City) or last year's embarrassing result would be repeated.... However, I took the trouble to pay attention to Carlo Ancelotti in the press conference after the game; and he said something that inspired this post: "There was no other way to beat Manchester City. Only this way..."
What was Carleto referring to? Well, just what we all witnessed. No matter the opponent, Real Madrid is a team that must know how to compete and must have that "winning gene". I held back yesterday from writing about FC Barcelona's self sabotage. Which, believe it or not, I don't like them too much, but they had absolutely everything to get to the semis and face Borussia, but.... They don't have what it takes. And what is it that almost everyone lacks in the Champions League? The winning mentality, really knowing how to be resilient; and playing to win.
Me, even as a Real Madrid fan, I could never say that Manchester City are a worse team than us: never.... They are better, totally. But we know how to win. It seems like a confusing joke what I'm saying, but interpret it well. We (making myself the name of Madrid) don't play to play "pretty". The idea is to reach the Final or be in the top 4 every season. It doesn't matter who is in front of us, where the games are played, or if we have big names or not. The crest comes before everything else. That's why Florentino Pérez has been able to manage a team that has made us powerfully unique, happy and incomparable...
I'm not like the typical Real fan, you know, the one who is arrogant and arrogant. I think there are quite plausible and logical explanations for why we win. And I think Madrid do so well because they don't (necessarily) need to play one way. We adapt, and we apply the best strategy. Sometimes, it can be liked, other times, not so much.... But I want to give credit to Guardiola (as I said, I'm a very unconventional madridista). I must admit, that respecting him and admiring him has cost me a lot, but just as we are the best in the UEFA Champions League, they, and more than all of their teams, are the best...
Pay attention to one thing in particular... We haven't won a single game. In fact, we haven't done so since that distant away match with RB Leipzig... We drew with them in Madrid, we drew against City in the first leg; and this one was decided by penalties... Does that give us a complex, does that make us feel bad? Absolutely not, no. Why? Because the objective is to win. We couldn't, but we got through the round because we were more effective on penalty kicks. That's the beauty of competitions and football; it doesn't matter how you interpret it or how you spin it in your mind; life, like football, is in the small but powerful details .... Hala Madrid!
Parecería que todos los años, todas las temporadas, da igual cuando se lea ésto; el Real Madrid siempre estará entre los mejores 4 equipos de la UEFA Champions League; ésta vez, dejando atrás a lo que yo todavía creo que es el mejor y más vistoso equipo de fútbol; y sí, me refiero al Manchester City FC de Pep Guardiola. Hemos presenciado una serie de 4tos de Final de Champions que no sólo es épica, sino que al fútbol le viene esencialmente bien. En una época donde las plataformas de streaming, el entretenimiento rápido, barato y desechable lo es todo; un deporte hermoso, inteligente y táctico, necesitaba estos enfrentamientos: estilo distintos, poderío, y fútbol, señores, fútbol...
Decidí titularlo de esta manera, con este aura de tanta mística, porque antes de postear en este nicho, leí varias crónicas del partido, varias opiniones brillantes e inteligentes, pero siento que de cierta manera todos repiten; en esencia, lo mismo: "avanzó de ronda el Real Madrid; los Reyes de Europa". Y yo, como fanática del Real Madrid, he visto desde hace un año y medio cómo las cosas han cambiado. Todos sabrán que en semifinales de la temporada pasada, el City nos destrozó en el Etihad Stadium. Este año, al igual que el pasado, empatamos jugando en casa. 3-3. Nos quedó ese sabor amargo; parecía que la "película" estaba por repetirse.
Rodri, las estadísticas del City en Manchester, el récord principal de Guardiola contra el Real, el hecho que jamás hemos ganado en ese estadio (y aún seguimos sin hacerlo); es decir todas las cosas indicaban que; o no podríamos eliminarlos (en referencia al City) o se volvería a repetir el resultado vergonzoso del año pasado... Sin embargo, me tomé la molestia de prestarle atención a Carlo Ancelotti en la conferencia de prensa después del partido; y él dijo algo que inspiró este post: "No había otra manera de ganar al Manchester City. Sólo de esta forma..."
¿A qué se refería Carleto? Bueno, justamente a lo que todos atestiguamos. Da igual el rival, el Real Madrid es un equipo que debe saber competir y debe tener ese "gen ganador". Me contuve ayer para escribir sobre el auto saboteo del FC Barcelona. Que, aunque lo crean o no, no me agradan demasiado, pero tenían absolutamente todo para llegar a semis y enfrentarse contra el Borussia, pero... No tiene lo necesario ¿Y qué es eso que casi todos carecen en Champions League? La mentalidad ganadora, saber realmente ser resilientes; y jugar a ganar.
Yo, aún siendo fanática del Real Madrid, jamás podría decir que el Manchester City es peor equipo que nosotros: jamás... Ellos son mejores, totalmente. Pero, nosotros sabemos ganar. Parece un chiste confuso lo que digo, pero interpreten bien. Nosotros (haciéndome el nombre del Madrid) no jugamos a jugar "bonito". La idea es llegar a la Final o estar entre los 4 mejores cada temporada. Da igual quién esté enfrente, dónde se jueguen los partidos, o si tenemos figuras de renombre o no. El escudo va por encima de todo. Por eso, Florentino Pérez ha sabido gestionar un equipo que nos ha hecho poderosamente únicos, felices e inigualables...
Yo no soy como la típica fanática del Real, ya saben, la que es prepotente y arrogante. Creo que hay explicaciones bastante plausibles y lógicas que explican por qué ganamos. Y creo que el Madrid lo hace tan bien, porque no necesita (necesariamente) jugar de un modo. Nos adaptamos, y aplicamos la mejor estrategia. A veces, puede gustar, otras, no tanto... Pero quiero darle méritos a Guardiola (como he dicho, soy una madridista muy no convencional). Debo admitir, que respetarle y cogerle admiración me ha costado mucho, pero así como nosotros somos los mejores en la UEFA Champions League, ellos, y más que todos sus equipos, son los mejores...
Fíjense en algo particular... No ganamos ningún partido. De hecho, no lo hacemos desde aquél lejano partido con el RB Leipzig, de visitante... Empatamos con ellos en Madrid, empatamos contra el City el partido de ida; y éste se definió por penaltis... ¿Eso nos acompleja, nos hace sentir mal? Absolutamente, no ¿Por qué? Porque el objetivo es ganar. No pudimos, pero superamos la ronda por ser más efectivos en los lanzamientos desde el punto penal. Esto es lo lindo de las competiciones y del fútbol; que da igual cómo lo interpretes o cómo le des vuelta en tu mente; la vida, así como el fútbol, está en los pequeños pero poderosos detalles.... ¡Hala Madrid!
Wonderful match from both team
Totally agree with you. Since at least 5 years ago, Man. City v Madrid is the absolute best match there is.
That true
Lol
You said Barcelona doesn't have what it takes to WIN UCL? That must be a joke. You already said it in your post, you never liked Barcelona. Fine.
I would have loved to see your team red carded at the early minutes of the game against city and let's see what the result would be. And as per your tactics yesterday night. Fine you defended well.
But trust me you can't play this same pattern all through and always win this same way.
Rodri record still stands, as a match lost base on Penalties doesn't count a loss to the team, its regarded as a draw. So therefore Rodri is still unbeaten 👏
That's a way to see it. I mean, since 2014/2015 Barça has been truly, real beaten by several teams. You know which team are those... Not even Man. City can stand the rhythm of UCL. Every match has its own story, That's for sure, but here we are... Another semi-finals for us. And even if we dont reach the Final at London, we will be the best UEFA Champions League there is. Read the post, I explained it.
Yeah sure In as much I hate to admit this... Madrid is the king when it comes to UCL.
I just hate that part you belittled my darling club.. Anyways, see you on Sunday.
El-classico 😂
Naaah, no worries, friend. We're just exchanging thoughts here, nothing else. I believe, Barça has a thing with the mindset. They have nice players, talented ones even, thing is that mentality plus terrible administration plus awful planning of every season, and even worse in modern football you need to be prepared to everything at any time. So, what you can't do is pretending to play an unique way. It's too limited and too unreal.
El Clásico? Sure thing, we will see Sunday's afternoon.