Real
Madrid are the eternal favourite to win the Champions League. This season, in
addition to a sensational squad led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid presents
one more reason to name the Spanish club as perspective champions: Jose
Mourinho. The Champions League winner with Inter will try to repeat his triumph
this time with the Merengues.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
For
this new season, Real Madrid has tried to achieve exactly what the team needed,
after several consecutive failures in the Champions League, an experienced
manager in this tournament who knows how to handle pressure. Jose Mourinho will
represent, therefore, the main strength of the new Real Madrid, together with
the arrival of some young stars (as Angel Di Maria, Mesut Oezil and Sergio
Canales) that can improve an attacking side already blessed with the likes of
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain. The weakness of Madrid is the constant
change at the club that takes place year after year and even within a single
season. The club are still looking for a clear identity for its team and the
problem is that the club always try to accomplish this while in competition.
Real Madrid never begin a season with an already consolidated scheme.
STARS & KEY PLAYERS
Real
Madrid are a team constructed around stars. The vast expenditure of players
brought in throughout last season guarantees there is at least a star in
defence, midfield and in attack. However, the biggest name in this
constellation of stars is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese is yet to make an
impact with the Blancos in the Champions League, after the disappointment of
last season, but he will undoubtedly become one of the main players of the
competition. The newcomers Oezil and Di Maria, as well as team idols as Iker
Casillas and Higuan will be the other key players of the squad.
COACH & TACTICS
President
Florentino Perez has understood that the key to success in the Champions League
lies primarily in having a good coach. He himself admitted that he failed with
Manuel Pellegrini and in order to correct this mistake, the Blancos supremo
hired the best paid coach in the world. After paying as much as the Portuguese
wanted, the hope is that the ‘Special One’ can repeat the chemistry that made
him world famous with Inter, winning everything last season. Tactically,
Mourinho is very smart and versatile, and can prepare for each match according
to the needs and difficulties raised by his rivals. Now he will be asked to
take the decisive step forward in the matches that Real Madrid has failed to
play in the last season of the Champions League.
SUCCESSES
Real
Madrid are the most successful team in history of the Champions League, with
nine European Cups to their name. However, five of them were achieved
consecutively more than half a century, ago and only three of the nine titles
have been achieved over the last forty years. In addition, Madrid have had a
disastrous spell in the last six years in the Champions League, failing to
reach even the quarter-finals. On the way the squad suffered some harsh defeats
against weaker rivals like Lyon and Roma, and then the Blancos met the likes of
Bayern, Liverpool, Juventus and Arsenal, and they made Madrid bend its knees.
The aim, this time around, is not only overcome this barrier but to reach the
finals. And win it, this time with a head coach nn the bench who knows exactly
how to do so.
STADIUM
The
temple of Real Madrid is the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Inaugurated in 1947 and
with a capacity for 80,354 spectators, the stadium is one of the most
spectacular in all of Europe. No wonder, it has hosted some of the biggest
events in the history of football: the World Cup Final in 1982, the European
Champions finals in 1964, 35 Spanish Cups, 3 European Cup finals (1957, 1969,
1980). Last year, the Santiago Bernabeu hosted the Champions League finals and
showed the world its extraordinary conditions. This year, the Blancos fans
expect a season of success for the team of Paseo de la Castellana avenue.
HERO OF THE FANS
The
two Portuguese stars of the team, head coach Jose Mourinho and striker
Cristiano Ronaldo represent the hopes of fans to make history for Real Madrid
this year. The number 7 forward, with his wining attitude and outstanding
talents embody the dreams of victory of Madrid fans. In addition to the two
Portuguese, the fans have raised to their altars to one man, goalkeeper Iker
Casillas, named The Saint, for saving the team when the going gets really
tough.