Real Madrid: April is a king's lie

A 4-0 aggregate win over Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals once again showed that Real Madrid have the special qualities to be the best team in Europe. They continue to face the next challenge in the form of Man City in the semi-finals, on the journey to affirm the highest position on the old continent.

In the 89th minute of the second leg of the 2021/22 Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu, the home team was 1-0 down. The aggregate score of the two matches was 3-5 in favor of Man City. Man City also completely controlled the game on the field. For most of the match, the Spanish Royal team did not have a single shot on target.

As if to add more meaning to Real Madrid's despair, next to the scoreboard, a probability table appeared on television, a new technology applied from 2022 in the Champions League. Based on the match situation and statistical data of the two teams' achievements, the computer will simulate and predict 100,000 times to find the probability of the match's outcome.

1% is the probability of Real Madrid going through. This number is so small that it creates the feeling that in the blink of an eye, all hope will disappear into nothingness. However, somehow, a miracle happened. Rodrygo scored a quick-fire double in the short time remaining, to the amazement of everyone watching the match. The two teams had to go into extra time to determine the winner, Karim Benzema delivered the finishing blow to the mighty opponent with a decisive shot from the penalty spot.

From a probability of almost zero, Real Madrid turned into a possibility. Man City's 99% chance of advancing became meaningless. The number 1% is deeply embedded in the minds of football fans as a metaphysical concept between nothing and something, showing that in football nothing is impossible and every gap is sometimes fragile.

Real Madrid is of course a living, magnificent testament to the fragility between nothing and something. Not only against Man City, throughout the journey to the 2021/22 Champions League final, Los Blancos continuously fell into danger. This team was led by Paris Saint Germain (PSG), reversed by Chelsea, but somehow still overcame the challenge.

It is worth mentioning that last season was no exception, Real Madrid's contemporary history was woven with miraculous escapes in the Champions League. Los Blancos' La Decima (the 10th championship of the most prestigious European tournament) only appeared from Sergio Ramos's equalizer in the 90+3 minute.

After Decima comes Undecimo (11), Duodecimo (12), Decimotercero (13) and last season's title, Decimocuarto (14). In the past 10 years, Real Madrid has won the Champions League 5 times. AC Milan, the second most successful team in C1/Champions League, has only won 7 titles, which is only half of Real Madrid's number of titles.

Barcelona at its peak with Pep Guardiola, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and tiqui-taca only won the Champions League twice. Meanwhile, Real Madrid won 3 times in a row to end the curse of not being able to defend the championship of the most prestigious tournament in Europe. Fate seems to have chosen the white team of Madrid to be the embodiment of the Champions League.

Real Madrid may not be the best or most powerful team, but every time they step into the Champions League arena, by some miracle, Los Blancos defeat all opponents to win the championship.

So every April, when the Champions League enters its decisive phase with fierce knockout rounds, the name Real Madrid shines brightly and occupies the center of attention. And not only on April Fool's Day, every time the emotional theme song of Europe's most prestigious arena sounds, the white team of Madrid becomes attractive, lively and full of magic.

They fooled the senses of all experts and fans, fooled the dry computer whose only job is to analyze based on data, and can even be said to fool fate to reach the pinnacle of glory. That special temperament or miracle did not suddenly exist at Real Madrid!

For many years, especially under the Franco regime, Real Madrid was the brightest star of Spanish football, representing the country in the international football arena. Not only that, Los Blancos were considered a symbol of the country, a rare "product" of this country that reached the world level and was capable of competing with all other countries' representatives.

Wherever Real Madrid marches, it is not Hala Madrid - the club's traditional song, but the Spanish national anthem that is performed. From there, it inadvertently places on the shoulders of the Royal team a great responsibility that goes beyond the framework of football.

If you look at the VIP stands of the Santiago Bernabeu on match days, it is not difficult to see the power of this team. From the country's most powerful politicians , wealthy tycoons, to famous stars from all fields such as television, cinema, sports and media are present here.

The VIP stand at the Bernabeu is a place where everyone dreams of setting foot. Only the most successful people in every field appear there. Fame, power and success are always closely linked and if Real Madrid wants to continue to be surrounded by the most successful, the team's mission is to win.

That pressure seeps into every corner of the Bernabeu, not only motivating every madridista but also a terrible burden on the heads of opponents. Many players and coaches have spoken of the "fear" at the Bernabeu, a word first used by Jorge Valdano, former player, coach, and sporting director of the team.

There is also the notion that this “fear” influences referees when it is really needed, especially in big matches. The inevitable consequence for Real Madrid is that everyone from top to bottom is very strict and winning becomes the only possible philosophy.

When recruiting new players, Real Madrid only accept the best players. As a result, the squad is made up of a lot of talent and personality. Most of them are experienced in the game, always know how to shine in important moments and can be called the big players of the big matches.

With Real Madrid, quality always comes first. The team does not focus too much on style like their arch-rivals Barcelona. In other words, Los Blancos always want to make the most of the rich talent in the squad.

"At Madrid, no one is obsessed with style. Our style is to win... Winning has been a fundamental need since the club was born," Valdano explained. "The key is that when a player joins Madrid, he immediately realises that anything short of winning is considered a disaster here."

Those who are not capable of winning titles cannot survive at Real Madrid. The team welcomes new players with a giant stadium, a magnificent tradition room displaying dozens of noble titles and pictures of many great legends. This will test the players' determination and character from the first day.

Those who can withstand this pressure will have great character. They bring victory to the team, including results and unbelievable comebacks that have become a trademark.

Players determine the success or failure of Real Madrid. Former player Victor Sanchez del Amo once said: "Real Madrid is the number one team because they always honor the players".

"Except for the Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho periods, there have been few periods in Real Madrid's history when the coach was more important than the players," writes Jesus Bengoechea, author of Forging Glory: A brief history of Real Madrid and a long-time madrisdista.

"Liverpool's big star is Jurgen Klopp. Madrid's big star is anyone but Ancelotti. When things go wrong, Liverpool players look to the bench for the German, just as Man City players look to Pep Guardiola.

Madrid players don't look to the bench when things don't go their way. They look at themselves and remember why Real Madrid signed them. Because they are incredibly talented and always know how to shine at the right time."

"The players look at the badge on the chest and don't need to be reminded that this great shirt has been worn by Di Stefano, Gento, Raul, Zidane, Cristiano, Ramos, Benzema, Modric," Bengoechea emphasized.

"The simple fact is that this pressure gives Madrid players such a power that it's like a prophecy. Only the best players deserve to wear the Real Madrid shirt, so 'I'm the best', and through that notion, it turns out that an already talented player becomes even more excellent."

In such a context, it is understandable why some flexible coaches like Vicente del Bosque, Zinedine Zidane or Carlo Ancelotti have achieved more success in the Champions League than talented but militaristic strategists like Fabio Capello or Jose Mourinho.

According to Jesus Bengoechea: "No coach who has won the Champions League at Real Madrid is not a little modest and discreet. They will not let themselves become too prominent and leave the spotlight to their students to shine to the fullest."

Real Madrid is respected not only for its past but also for its future and what it can create. Los Blancos is not the type of club that plays consistently and consistently throughout the season or throughout the 90 minutes of a match. However, the fearsome spirit of the Spanish Royal team is its resilience. Real Madrid does not give up and wakes up at any time to destroy all opponents.

Last season, for example, Real Madrid won the Champions League after defeating Liverpool 1-0 in the final. However, the Royal team's achievements were not created by stability but by always knowing how to overcome adversity. During the journey to the final, Los Blancos were constantly pushed into a difficult situation by PSG, Man City and Chelsea to the point that they only had a 1% chance of going on as mentioned.

Since then, the reputation of the Royal team has been created by many spectacular comebacks. The belief at Bernabeu and the fear from the opponents are increasingly reinforced that Real Madrid can beat any opponent.

At Barcelona, ​​defeats, especially against Real Madrid, are a constant source of pain. At Madrid, any defeat is quickly brushed aside by the constant “logic” of defeating any opponent. That invincibility mentality spreads to the fans and when they fall, Los Blancos quickly get up and move on.

Therefore, Alfredo Relano, Editor-in-Chief of AS, who identifies himself as a madridista but has Catalan blood, concluded: "Barca is like a vast emotional land while Madrid is the regime's tool of conquest."

Real Madrid is simply a team that does not accept defeat, especially the fans. No one is above the club. Any player who has worn the Los Blancos shirt can confirm that "no matter how famous the name is, if you do not have enough talent and dedication, the madridistas will soon give you a reminder". Therefore, only at the Bernabeu can one witness the home crowd applauding the players of the arch-rivals or booing the stars and symbols of the club.

This somewhat English style of cheering by madridistas makes them not understand why other teams are comforted and encouraged by fans after a 0-5 defeat. However, the similarity between Real Madrid members and fans, according to Valdano, is "never giving up and always cherishing the historical value of Real Madrid and the legends who have worn the white shirt". That harmony creates a resurgent and extraordinary Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Content: Khai Hung

Design: Tuan Huy

April 21, 2023

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/real-madrid-thang-tu-la-loi-noi-doi-cua-bac-quan-vuong-20230418142845494.htm