Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience. ~George-Louis de Buffon
The first installment of Real Madrid v Barcelona has come and gone, leaving us feeling content—similar to an appetizer being almost just right before a fine meal.
The build up to this unusual four Clasico clash of La Liga titans has been intense. The majority of press coverage has been focused on the upcoming few weeks and the ramifications of the ensuing results. All of the reading has been interesting, which happens when no one can possibly be objective about a particular subject.
My two favorite La Liga correspondents, Phil Ball and Eduardo Alvarez, both of Soccernet, provided insightful analysis of Saturdays 1-1 draw. Their familiarity with Spanish culture and the way futbol is woven through the fabric of Spain is always worth reading.
This dear readers, brings us to the quote heading this piece:
Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience. ~George-Louis de Buffon
The first installment of Real Madrid v Barcelona has come and gone, leaving us feeling content—similar to an appetizer being almost just right before a fine meal.
The build up to this unusual four Clasico clash of La Liga titans has been intense. The majority of press coverage has been focused on the upcoming few weeks and the ramifications of the ensuing results. All of the reading has been interesting, which happens when no one can possibly be objective about a particular subject.
My two favorite La Liga correspondents, Phil Ball and Eduardo Alvarez, both of Soccernet, provided insightful analysis of Saturdays 1-1 draw. Their familiarity with Spanish culture and the way futbol is woven through the fabric of Spain is always worth reading.
This dear readers, brings us to the quote heading this piece:
Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience. ~George-Louis de Buffon
Here is my take on proceedings—In a sharp grey suit somewhere in Madrid is a small notebook snugly placed in an inner pocket, patiently waiting for its master’s next submission. Inside, meticulous notes starting in early August 2010 written in a compilation of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian dictate the proceedings and outcome of Real Madrid’s season. As we have all witnessed before, Mr. Mourinho leaves little to chance.
Saturday’s draw was just another pawn moved slowly and methodically. His opponent pressed into a more compromised position. In the big picture, Saturday’s result did not matter for Real Madrid or Jose Mourinho. The La Liga title was never his goal. Even if Real Madrid had won, no other side has the quality or determination left at this point in the season to take points from Barcelona. Mourinho has been focused on Champions League glory since day one in Madrid. He has been waiting patiently.
Expect more of the same in this week’s Copa del Rey final. Barcelona does not have a card up its sleeve. They are mesmerizing—ruthlessly sophisticated in their play. For the opposition it must give real insight to the feelings someone might have if an autopsy were performed on them while still alive. However, this week, the Barcelona blade will be dulled a bit more by a cynical Real Madrid performance not focused on winning the Copa del Rey, but patiently working their opponent, like a boxer working the body against a superior adversary, for ninety more minutes in preparation for Champions League success.
Saturday’s draw was just another pawn moved slowly and methodically. His opponent pressed into a more compromised position. In the big picture, Saturday’s result did not matter for Real Madrid or Jose Mourinho. The La Liga title was never his goal. Even if Real Madrid had won, no other side has the quality or determination left at this point in the season to take points from Barcelona. Mourinho has been focused on Champions League glory since day one in Madrid. He has been waiting patiently.
Expect more of the same in this week’s Copa del Rey final. Barcelona does not have a card up its sleeve. They are mesmerizing—ruthlessly sophisticated in their play. For the opposition it must give real insight to the feelings someone might have if an autopsy were performed on them while still alive. However, this week, the Barcelona blade will be dulled a bit more by a cynical Real Madrid performance not focused on winning the Copa del Rey, but patiently working their opponent, like a boxer working the body against a superior adversary, for ninety more minutes in preparation for Champions League success.
The story is almost over my friends, and if you have made it this far with me, thank you for indulging my Mourinho hypothesis.
Come the Champions League matchup with Barcelona, Mr. Mourinho will unleash his compatriot, Cristiano Ronaldo, as the lone striker in his counter attacking demolition machine. A card he has held up his sleeve all season long. I have no doubt, there is a select group of XI players that has been patiently waiting in that notebook, waiting, waiting to prove to us all that the Special One has once again had the last laugh.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. ~Jonathan Swift
Come the Champions League matchup with Barcelona, Mr. Mourinho will unleash his compatriot, Cristiano Ronaldo, as the lone striker in his counter attacking demolition machine. A card he has held up his sleeve all season long. I have no doubt, there is a select group of XI players that has been patiently waiting in that notebook, waiting, waiting to prove to us all that the Special One has once again had the last laugh.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. ~Jonathan Swift
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