Football Special Report: Can Mourinho’s tactics help Real Madrid snatch the title away from Barcelona
The European Football is an interesting affair, as the European clubs capture many world-class players to play for them. The competition is always stronger, while the rivalries are bitter. In addition, the fans watch players from different continents and countries playing for their favourite clubs, all trying to make a name by winning different trophies.
However, if a closer look is taken on the history of football, we would see a kind of monopoly of a few clubs, who emerge winners for most of the time. Real Madrid and Barcelona from Spain, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus from Italy, Ajax from Netherlands, Bayern Munich from Germany and Manchester United and Liverpool from England. These clubs have won not only the maximum number of league titles, but also won most of the Champions League trophies. Among all these clubs, Real Madrid has been the most successful club in the World. Not only, they have the biggest share of La Liga titles, but also, they have won eight Champions League trophies.
Recently, the Madrid’s supremacy has come under a threat by their archrivals, Barcelona. The Catalonians have gathered a bunch of world-class players at New Camp, which have been dominating the whole of Europe, since 2008. The Barcelona’s matches have always been one sided affairs, in terms of possession, as they humiliated their opponents, without any exceptions. Even, Real Madrid has lost all their fixtures against the Catalonians, in the last two years, which is a great blow to their pride. So, before the start of the last season, the Madrid’s management decided to take drastic action by bringing in a lot of famous players, including Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, while going on a record spending extravaganza. However, the domination could not be challenged, and they were humiliated in Europe as well.
Something happened towards the end of the season that proved to be the only clue in defeating Barcelona. The self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho, the Inter Milan manager at the time, used his famous tactics to beat Barcelona in the Semi-Final of the Champions League. Although, he deserved praises for his unique achievement, but, a lot of criticism was thrown at him for using the anti-football tactics. These tactics were specially designed for Barcelona, to counter every single world class player in their squad.
Despite the criticism, it must be acknowledged that Mourinho was the one who told the Europe a way to overcome, probably, the toughest side in the history of European Football.
Therefore, Real Madrid approached Mourinho, at once, as they felt that they have to beat this team at their home as well. Barcelona has won two league titles in a row, and is currently flying high, without facing any real opposition from any side in Spain. They have even humiliated Real Madrid, on a couple of occasions, which has led the Madrid’s decision-makers to make the toughest decision of their career.
Mourinho’s style is totally against the football policy of Real Madrid, i.e. Madrid likes a more open and attacking style of football. However, Mourinho likes a narrow and conservative style, with a lot of defending options in the team. Things have changed and now the first thing on the minds of the Real Madrid’s management is to snatch the title away from Barcelona.
This is not the first time that Mourinho has shown the World a way to overcome Barcelona. In the 2008-2009 Season, Barcelona were given a very tough time by the English side, Chelsea, which is again a team largely built by Mourinho himself. Chelsea, more or less, still runs on the principles of Mourinho, and before the defeat at the hands of Inter, Chelsea came closest of beating the Catalonians.
This season is definitely going to be a tough one for Barcelona, especially against their archrivals, Real Madrid. Although, Madrid is in better position now to beat Barcelona, but they might be in a weaker position to win the title because of the manager’s tactics.
Mourinho can mould himself according to his current team, which means that he would be playing a more open and attacking football in the next season. The anti-football tactics would be reserved for Barcelona alone.
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