'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After one Spanish team got dismantled by a German one on Tuesday night, it was the turn of another Spanish team to get dismantled by yet another German team. Borussia Dortmund, the dark horses, according to many, before the competition began, have become progressively whiter, so to speak. Recent performances in the latter stages of the Champions League have now made them favourites to progress to the final and, in what could be the first all-German final ever, could be on an even keel with the team that took the title away from them in Germany – Bayern Munich.
The final score on the night was 4-1. Dortmund scored 4; to be more precise, Robert Lewandowski scored 4. Inevitably, Cristiano Ronaldo scored one for Real, albeit under controversial circumstances. After the game, Jose Mourinho remarked that there was nothing that they did not know about Lewandowski, that they had done every analysis that was possible and yet they let him score four; three from open play and one from the penalty spot.
This Real Madrid team does not really look like a Real Madrid team of the early 2000s, the Galacticos. Of course, no one expects it to be. When Mourinho took over, many expected instant results. When he took over, he was surprisingly downplaying what could be done. However, in his three seasons, he has achieved a reasonable amount of success. He won the cup in his first season and the league in his second. In the meantime, many were expecting Real to kick on and win what the Real fans believe is their birthright – the Champions League.
However, things have not quite gone according to plan. They have all but lost the league and are on the verge of exiting the Champions League as well. Clearly, all is not well. This team seems to be a Jose team, and yet, a very un-Jose team. With the likes on Ronaldo, Ozil, Benzema, Di Maria, Modric and Kaka, there is no shortage of attacking talent. Indeed, when things have clicked, they really have clicked. Real look like the team that can take anyone to the cleaners. However, the problem is that this aforementioned ‘clicking’ has not happened on a consistent basis.
For large parts of games, especially big games, they seem indifferent, bored even. They lack a certain imagination, that creative spark that one associates with the men in pristine white. Too often do they rely on Ronaldo to be an outlet and to ignite the team. At most times, he delivers; but even he is human. As a result, Real have looked pedestrian at times. Ronaldo has scored 30 times in the league. The next highest scorer is Higuain with 13. No other player even gets into double digits. A striking statistic indeed. No pun intended.
The other striking factor is that in a very un-Mourinho style, this Real Madrid team is a goal-shipping machine. They have leaked 30 goals in 32 games in the League thus far. This is by no means a poor stat, of course, but for a Mourinho team, it is something that is not associated. They always seem to give the opposition that chance and, if the opposition is good enough, they tend to take it. This gives teams, even lower-placed teams, that much more belief when they do play Madrid. In some respects, that aura is gone.
Looking for newer pastures?
Mourinho, it seems, is at the end of the line. The dream marriage of the most famous club in the world and the most charismatic coach in the world seems destined to end in bitter separation at the end of the season. Mourinho has almost delivered on all his promises. He did win the title back, he did win the cup. The one trophy that eludes him, the one the fans want the most, seems to be out of his grasp for another year at least.
Will Mourinho be at the helm when the next season gets underway? It looks unlikely. He does not seem happy in Spain and it shows. A reunion with Chelsea is on the cards. Whoever comes in to replace him certainly has his work cut out for him. He is a tough act to follow indeed. Just ask all the Chelsea managers who have come in after him. However, it is not just a change of philosophy that will be of the essence.
The squad, with all the superstars that it does have, seems almost one dimensional at times. Familiarity breeds contempt is an age-old saying, and one that seems apt for this Madrid squad. Kaka seems to be on his way out. There will, one assumes, be more faces that will be shown the door as well. There will be faces that will come in. Real Madrid, however, will remain. They will remain; but as what?
Will they recapture the past glory? Will they win Champions Leagues again? Of course they will! Some time in the future, yes. Some time in the near future? Hard to say, and by the looks of it, hard to imagine as well.
After the game, Mourinho said that if everyone plays at top level in the 2nd leg, then it could be one of those crazy nights and Real could well win 3-0. This looks more than unlikely; it looks improbable. However, stranger things have happened in football.
