Peter Anderson ⚽ If there is one team I despise more than any other then it has to be Real Madrid.

My six years living in Madrid contributed much to this disliking. Spend any time in the city and you will see that they are more than a city club, in fact they are perceived locally as more of a national team than a city club. 

This all comes from the dictator, Franco, being a fanatical supporter of the club. Now Real represent that essential Castilian nationalism that Franco espoused. Nowadays, Franco's old party has morphed into the Partido Popular (PP) and they are the traditionally the strongest party in Madrid, providing both the city's mayor and the regional president. Real also get much support from right leaning supporters all around the country, but predominantly in the south. For many followers of Malaga or Betis, Real are their second team.

When I lived there, I saw how everything in Madrid is geared so that Real can stay at the top. They have the lions' share of the TV money, have influence over who can referee their games and the local authorities are less than rigorous when it comes to financial dealings. In the local press Real are given the lions' share of the TV time and the press column inches. You would be forgiven for thinking that Atletico and Rayo don't exist. I bought the local paper the morning after Atletico had knocked Liverpool out of the Europa League only to find that the main headline was that Ronaldo had injured his ankle in training!

Naturally I gravitated towards Atletico, and during my time there I saw 6 or 7 derby matches at Atletico's Calderon stadium. I didn't see one Atletico victory - Real won or drew every game, and it was always in the same way. They would withstand the onslaught, the goalkeeper (Iker Casillas in those days) would make a string of great saves and then they would nick a winner or leveller at the end. They have belief. It is in the DNA of the club to hang in there and nick something. This comes from the intense loathing they experience in away games, especially in the north of the country, where they have to suffer under intense hatred from the terraces. They suck it up and then counter punch. 

This belief is most prevalent in the UCL, which they consider to be their trophy. They have a saying in Madrid, Real don't play finals, they win finals. And so they do! They beat Atletico twice in recent years. In 2014, they equalised in the final minutes and won in injury time, and in 2016, they won on penalties. They have also beaten Liverpool twice in recent years. Last Saturday night's final was especially disappointing. Liverpool failed to score, just like in the other 2 finals they won this season, despite having a super strong front line and Jota and Bobby Dazzler on the bench. Liverpool pressed, but Courtois kept them out with some fine saves. In the end, it all came down to TAA failing to cover his back stick, like we have seen all too often, and Madrid nick yet another win. 

After the way City failed to take advantage of their dominance and put Real out of the tie, watching Liverpool fall to the same fate was a hard one to take. So, 5 Champions League titles in the last 9 years for Real. I'm beginning to think it is their competition.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Despising Real Madrid

Peter Anderson ⚽ If there is one team I despise more than any other then it has to be Real Madrid.

My six years living in Madrid contributed much to this disliking. Spend any time in the city and you will see that they are more than a city club, in fact they are perceived locally as more of a national team than a city club. 

This all comes from the dictator, Franco, being a fanatical supporter of the club. Now Real represent that essential Castilian nationalism that Franco espoused. Nowadays, Franco's old party has morphed into the Partido Popular (PP) and they are the traditionally the strongest party in Madrid, providing both the city's mayor and the regional president. Real also get much support from right leaning supporters all around the country, but predominantly in the south. For many followers of Malaga or Betis, Real are their second team.

When I lived there, I saw how everything in Madrid is geared so that Real can stay at the top. They have the lions' share of the TV money, have influence over who can referee their games and the local authorities are less than rigorous when it comes to financial dealings. In the local press Real are given the lions' share of the TV time and the press column inches. You would be forgiven for thinking that Atletico and Rayo don't exist. I bought the local paper the morning after Atletico had knocked Liverpool out of the Europa League only to find that the main headline was that Ronaldo had injured his ankle in training!

Naturally I gravitated towards Atletico, and during my time there I saw 6 or 7 derby matches at Atletico's Calderon stadium. I didn't see one Atletico victory - Real won or drew every game, and it was always in the same way. They would withstand the onslaught, the goalkeeper (Iker Casillas in those days) would make a string of great saves and then they would nick a winner or leveller at the end. They have belief. It is in the DNA of the club to hang in there and nick something. This comes from the intense loathing they experience in away games, especially in the north of the country, where they have to suffer under intense hatred from the terraces. They suck it up and then counter punch. 

This belief is most prevalent in the UCL, which they consider to be their trophy. They have a saying in Madrid, Real don't play finals, they win finals. And so they do! They beat Atletico twice in recent years. In 2014, they equalised in the final minutes and won in injury time, and in 2016, they won on penalties. They have also beaten Liverpool twice in recent years. Last Saturday night's final was especially disappointing. Liverpool failed to score, just like in the other 2 finals they won this season, despite having a super strong front line and Jota and Bobby Dazzler on the bench. Liverpool pressed, but Courtois kept them out with some fine saves. In the end, it all came down to TAA failing to cover his back stick, like we have seen all too often, and Madrid nick yet another win. 

After the way City failed to take advantage of their dominance and put Real out of the tie, watching Liverpool fall to the same fate was a hard one to take. So, 5 Champions League titles in the last 9 years for Real. I'm beginning to think it is their competition.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

4 comments:

  1. Real Madrid rarely take fans away, certainly not to to Catalonia. They may think the European Cup is theirs, they were the early pacesetters, but in 1958, I and many others believe but for Munich Matt Busbys team of Edwards, Taylor, Whelan, Coleman, Roger Byrne and other genius's of the time would have stopped them and won the trophy in 1958. I also think Real Madrid knew it, because they offered to hand the trophy to Man Utd that same year which was a nice gesture.

    On the political front they are despicable, backed by Franco and the fascists, as are Lazio in Italy Mussolinis old team and still carry a fascist sympathy element. Real (Royal) Madrid have a fascist past and arguably still hold to that tradition. Notably none turn up at the Nou Camp.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

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  2. Always good to read this type of take

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  3. Last 11 Euro club finals involving Prem V Spanish clubs reads - 1 win to the Prem , 10 to the Spaniards , Liverpool beating Alaves in 2001 being the stand out result . In 330 mins of play in their 3 finals this season , the Reds didn't score . Time to sell 5 of the strikers @ the club - Firms , Mo , Mane , Origi , Minamino ; buy 4 .
    Someone in the clouds was smiling @ R M throughout the
    tournament . They won it the hard way.

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  4. A final word on Pool - 6 draws against the other top 4 teams in Prem games suggests they have few problems with the lesser teams ; continually come up short when faced with a step up in quality . Will Klopp win another of the big two cups ?

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