Raul's return is making me nostalgic, so here's a disjointed look at the season Raul made his debut.
Until I was around ten years old La Liga was something I watched a few times a season and Real Madrid a team I'd only ever watched when they played a big game in Europe (e.g. that game against Sacchi's Milan. Though I was just a kid so I remember my dad's reactions as much as anything. Ouch.) or against Barcelona, and all my hopes and dreams were pinned on Brøndby's exploits in the UEFA Cup. But then Michael Laudrup fell out with Johan Cruyff, watched from the stands as Barcelona's Dream Team lost the 1994 European Cup final 4-0 to Capello's Milan and decided that Real Madrid was the place to be.
The Madrid Laudrup joined and the Madrid I fell in love with was a bit of a mess and a team in transition but there was so much want, ambition and optimism, and so, so many undercurrents throughout the season. The core of La Quinta del Buitre was still around but they were far from their glory days - though in 1992/93 Madrid had won the Copa del Rey and lost the title on the last day away to a Tenerife side managed by Jorge Valdano - and Barca had won the last four titles on the trot. I grew up in a country (and with a dad) that still to this day resents Butragueño for the four goals he scored against us in the second round of the 1986 World Cup, but when he sat on the bench next to Chendo, I just thought he looked human and a bit frail. I didn't know then of course, but that season was to be the swansong of some of the biggest characters in Madrid's recent history and that infused the season with a bit of melancholia.
Manolo Sanchís was still awesome though and next to him was Fernando Hierro and behind them Paco Buyo was still around. Back then league rules only allowed three non-Spanish players in the match day squads and Redondo was the other 'foreign' signing of the summer. Together with Michel, another of the Quinta that was still running strong, that made for a pretty tasty midfield, which was needed 'cause Jorge Valdano, the new manager, had some pretty big and ambitious plans.
Valdano was and still is a follower of César Luís Menotti, same as Tata. Menotti was born and raised in Rosario, 'cause everything is about Messi, and was the manager who lead Argentina to the 1978 WC, failed to lead them to the title in 1982 and then went on to manage Barca for one pretty unhappy season. But he was Bielsa before Bielsa and he left a big mark on Argentinian football. Valdano swore by his attacking set-up, a possesion based 4-4-2 with zonal marking and a sweeper, but more pragmatic and a bit more conservative than Cryuff's Barca. Before the season started, this was what Valdano had to say: “The bacillus of efficiency has also attacked football, and some dare to ask what’s the point in playing well. I feel tempted to tell about the time they dared to ask Borges what is poetry for, to which he answered: ‘What is a sunrise for? What are caresses for? What is the smell of coffee for? Every question sounded like an answer. It is for joy, it is for the emotion, it is for living.’”
He wanted them to score spetacular goals but he also wanted them to win. Madrid sat pretty far back on the pitch and everyone, incl. Laudrup, was made to run and do their defensive duties. In the beginning it wasn't all that pretty but they won and went on top of the league. And in late October Valdano gave a kid his debut away against Zaragoza and when that kid scored a week later at home against Atleti, assisted by Laudrup of course, things were looking pretty good.
But this was still Madrid so of course they found a way to make life difficult. They lost the lead in the league to Zaragoza and in December they went into a return match in the UEFA Cup against Danish minnows OB, brimming with confidence and arrogance. And promptly lost 0-2 at home in the Bernabeu and was out of the UEFA Cup before Christmas. OB's keeper, Lars Høgh, had been in goal that night in 1986 when Butra scored four and sent the best ever Danish team home from Mexico, but in the Bernabeu he had the game of a lifetime. I think it took a few days before Laudrup spoke to him again tbh. Then Michel got a knee injury, which was the beginning of the end for him, and things began to look a little shaky. At least Barca was having a lot of trouble adjusting to life without Laudrup and was in shambles.
But back then Luís Enrique was stil a Madridista and while he didn't have Michel's technique and flair, he did a good job on the wing. Laudrup was just fantastic. And Raul, Raul was awesome. Butra didn't see much playing time after that and the torch had been passed. It was all very symbolic.
And then in January Barca came to town. The season before Barca had won 5-0 in the Camp Nou in what I'm sure was Pique's favourite match ever until Mou came to town, but this time it was different. If you haven't seen that game, you owe yourself to find it somewhere, 'cause it was awesome beyond belief. If you can't watch it, then at least read this: http://watchthismatch.blogspot.dk/2011/06/real-madrid-5-3-barcelona-0-0.html which does a much better job describing the match than I ever could.
I fell in love that day and it remains my favourite Clasico. After that they were unstoppable, except for a small stumble in the Camp Nou, brought on by the reception Laudrup faced from the Barca faithful, and they secured the title for the first time in five years and spelled the end off Barca's Dream Team. And they were finally back in the European Cup.
Raul was here to stay, but Butra, Michel, and others who had brought the club so much was on their way out. Chendo remained on the bench. And in the summer it all went of the rails. Of course. The club was threathend with relegation to Segunda B due to debt and was saved only by some shady deals in the last minute by then president Mendoza. I've always liked Mendoza, he was quite the character, but as an administrator he was a unmitigated distaster. Perez had tried to unseat him during the season, the first time he ran for president, but Mandoza had prevailed. Sevilla was relegated, then the league changed their minds and had to extend the league to 22 teams to make up for it. It was a mess. And then came the messiest presidential election I've seen in the club. The board of directors failed to approve the budget and Mendoza made a deal with Perez, hoping to keep his place for a few more years in exchange for promise to Perez of an early election to make room for him. That didn't end well and in the end Lorenzo Sanz, Mendoza's VP, came away with the presidency, the defense of the title was a sob story and the scene was set for the arrival of Heynkes and La Septima. And we still had Raul.
Until I was around ten years old La Liga was something I watched a few times a season and Real Madrid a team I'd only ever watched when they played a big game in Europe (e.g. that game against Sacchi's Milan. Though I was just a kid so I remember my dad's reactions as much as anything. Ouch.) or against Barcelona, and all my hopes and dreams were pinned on Brøndby's exploits in the UEFA Cup. But then Michael Laudrup fell out with Johan Cruyff, watched from the stands as Barcelona's Dream Team lost the 1994 European Cup final 4-0 to Capello's Milan and decided that Real Madrid was the place to be.
The Madrid Laudrup joined and the Madrid I fell in love with was a bit of a mess and a team in transition but there was so much want, ambition and optimism, and so, so many undercurrents throughout the season. The core of La Quinta del Buitre was still around but they were far from their glory days - though in 1992/93 Madrid had won the Copa del Rey and lost the title on the last day away to a Tenerife side managed by Jorge Valdano - and Barca had won the last four titles on the trot. I grew up in a country (and with a dad) that still to this day resents Butragueño for the four goals he scored against us in the second round of the 1986 World Cup, but when he sat on the bench next to Chendo, I just thought he looked human and a bit frail. I didn't know then of course, but that season was to be the swansong of some of the biggest characters in Madrid's recent history and that infused the season with a bit of melancholia.
Manolo Sanchís was still awesome though and next to him was Fernando Hierro and behind them Paco Buyo was still around. Back then league rules only allowed three non-Spanish players in the match day squads and Redondo was the other 'foreign' signing of the summer. Together with Michel, another of the Quinta that was still running strong, that made for a pretty tasty midfield, which was needed 'cause Jorge Valdano, the new manager, had some pretty big and ambitious plans.
Valdano was and still is a follower of César Luís Menotti, same as Tata. Menotti was born and raised in Rosario, 'cause everything is about Messi, and was the manager who lead Argentina to the 1978 WC, failed to lead them to the title in 1982 and then went on to manage Barca for one pretty unhappy season. But he was Bielsa before Bielsa and he left a big mark on Argentinian football. Valdano swore by his attacking set-up, a possesion based 4-4-2 with zonal marking and a sweeper, but more pragmatic and a bit more conservative than Cryuff's Barca. Before the season started, this was what Valdano had to say: “The bacillus of efficiency has also attacked football, and some dare to ask what’s the point in playing well. I feel tempted to tell about the time they dared to ask Borges what is poetry for, to which he answered: ‘What is a sunrise for? What are caresses for? What is the smell of coffee for? Every question sounded like an answer. It is for joy, it is for the emotion, it is for living.’”
He wanted them to score spetacular goals but he also wanted them to win. Madrid sat pretty far back on the pitch and everyone, incl. Laudrup, was made to run and do their defensive duties. In the beginning it wasn't all that pretty but they won and went on top of the league. And in late October Valdano gave a kid his debut away against Zaragoza and when that kid scored a week later at home against Atleti, assisted by Laudrup of course, things were looking pretty good.
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But back then Luís Enrique was stil a Madridista and while he didn't have Michel's technique and flair, he did a good job on the wing. Laudrup was just fantastic. And Raul, Raul was awesome. Butra didn't see much playing time after that and the torch had been passed. It was all very symbolic.
And then in January Barca came to town. The season before Barca had won 5-0 in the Camp Nou in what I'm sure was Pique's favourite match ever until Mou came to town, but this time it was different. If you haven't seen that game, you owe yourself to find it somewhere, 'cause it was awesome beyond belief. If you can't watch it, then at least read this: http://watchthismatch.blogspot.dk/2011/06/real-madrid-5-3-barcelona-0-0.html which does a much better job describing the match than I ever could.
I fell in love that day and it remains my favourite Clasico. After that they were unstoppable, except for a small stumble in the Camp Nou, brought on by the reception Laudrup faced from the Barca faithful, and they secured the title for the first time in five years and spelled the end off Barca's Dream Team. And they were finally back in the European Cup.
Raul was here to stay, but Butra, Michel, and others who had brought the club so much was on their way out. Chendo remained on the bench. And in the summer it all went of the rails. Of course. The club was threathend with relegation to Segunda B due to debt and was saved only by some shady deals in the last minute by then president Mendoza. I've always liked Mendoza, he was quite the character, but as an administrator he was a unmitigated distaster. Perez had tried to unseat him during the season, the first time he ran for president, but Mandoza had prevailed. Sevilla was relegated, then the league changed their minds and had to extend the league to 22 teams to make up for it. It was a mess. And then came the messiest presidential election I've seen in the club. The board of directors failed to approve the budget and Mendoza made a deal with Perez, hoping to keep his place for a few more years in exchange for promise to Perez of an early election to make room for him. That didn't end well and in the end Lorenzo Sanz, Mendoza's VP, came away with the presidency, the defense of the title was a sob story and the scene was set for the arrival of Heynkes and La Septima. And we still had Raul.
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