One year is a long time in football and I can safely predict that we shall not see a repeat of last year when Barca next meet Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
There have been some exemplary matches ( the last one against Milan was one of them) but this season’s FC Barcelona has matured but seemed to have got tired and somewhat demotivated in the process. By contrast Real Madrid is looking sharp and dangerous, not least in front of goal and all this with a club that appears to be pursuing a different narrative.
Mourinho has gone relatively quiet all of a sudden, and adopted an air of civility that was lacking last season, but which made him such an easy target for his detractors.His relaxed mode reflects confidence in his young players and their ability to play good football without resorting to thuggery. The chorusing of Mourinho’s name by Real Madrid fans is unprecedented. No manager/coach in the colub’s history has secured such popularity.
It may seem extraordinary by contrast at Pep Guardiola ,only days away from this season’s first Classico, is already admitting in public that FC Barcelona may have already lost the League. But it a wise tactic to deliver what you have promised rather than to promise what you can’t deliver. I suspect that Pep knows that Barca will not only lose at the Bernabeu in a few days time, but could well end this season without a trophy. If I’m proved wrong , Pep will earn the title ‘the special one’- no contest.
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