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My first encounter with Real Madrid was in 2001, when I began to pay attention to the world of football, marking the start of my journey as a football fan. From being completely oblivious, I started to get to know European powerhouse teams like Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus, and many others. I became acquainted with football superstars such as Raúl, Figo, Ronaldo, Owen, Zidane, and more. Back then, as a high school student with limited exposure, I naturally gravitated towards the strongest team at the time to become my favorite, and coincidentally, Real Madrid had just embarked on the Galácticos era, flexing their financial muscles to acquire the best players in the football world each year. Thus began my 23-year journey as a Real Madrid fan.
However, the Galácticos policy did not bring the desired glory to Real Madrid. After winning the Champions League in 2002, the team gradually declined. Real Madrid's nickname during those years was "the Round of 16" in the Champions League. I remember being particularly wary of Lyon, as we often faced them in the Round of 16 and got eliminated. The era also saw the departure of the legendary coach, Vicente del Bosque. Subsequently, Real Madrid struggled in both domestic and European competitions. In 2009, Florentino Pérez returned as the president of Real Madrid, and with the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Benzema, the second phase of the Galácticos era officially began. At that time, Barcelona was dominant, achieving various trebles and sextuples, leaving Real Madrid struggling to keep up. Real Madrid opted to break the deadlock by appointing Mourinho. Though Mourinho eventually left Real Madrid on a sour note, the foundation of Real Madrid's championship-winning team was laid during his tenure. Mourinho's Real Madrid won the league with 100 points, ending Barcelona's treble dreams. Following Mourinho, Ancelotti led Real Madrid back to the summit. Then it was time for Zidane, who led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles. Though Real Madrid did not dominate like Barcelona's era, it seemed like any team could defeat them. Yet, Real Madrid always had a mystical quality that allowed them to emerge victorious in the end. From then on, this became Real Madrid's trademark. As long as the game was not over, even if Real Madrid trailed, there was always a belief that they could stage a comeback, and they did so in many matches. Ten years, five Champions League titles – this is the king of the Champions League, Real Madrid.
This season's Real Madrid has also been quite mysterious. After Benzema's departure, Real Madrid lacked a prominent striker. The team also suffered from continuous injuries, especially in the central defender position, with Alaba practically missing the entire season. Fortunately, Real Madrid always had someone stepping up at crucial moments. Early in the season when goals were hard to come by, newcomer Bellingham stepped up, consistently scoring goals to keep Real Madrid competitive in the league standings. Two Brazilian youngsters, Vinicius and Rodrygo, always stepped up in key matches, such as against Manchester City and Bayern Munich. In defense, when Alaba and Courtois were absent, we had Rüdiger, Militão, and the new goalkeeper Lunin. The experienced midfield duo, Modric and Kroos, brought a sense of assurance on the field. This Real Madrid team is undoubtedly very united and possesses a strong mental fortitude. It is this unity and mystique that helped Real Madrid clinch the La Liga title and advance to the Champions League final. The 36th La Liga title in the club's history puts Barcelona far behind in second place. With these young talents and considering Barcelona's current situation, I believe Real Madrid can continue to widen the gap.
With half a month left until the Champions League final, most of these players have experienced the final before, so playing in it should be much easier than for Dortmund. As long as they don't underestimate their opponents, I believe this Champions League title should be within reach. Therefore, I am also eagerly looking forward to celebrating Real Madrid's 15th Champions League title next month!
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Post time 18-5-2024 04:54:30