The Real Madrid players now know that Atlético
await them in Lisbon.
This has come as a disappointment. As soon as the final whistle was blown in Munich, the 'Los Blancos' squad began to look ahead to the
final and the verdict was virtually unanimous: they wanted Chelsea.
It goes without
saying that this is by no means a slight on Atlético. However, there were
several reasons why the Real players were keen to take on Chelsea. José
Mourinho was chief among them. Large sections of the 'Merengues' dressing
room have a score to settle with the Portuguese coach. This much was obvious
during the pre-season fixture between the two teams in Los Angeles, in which Real looked like they
had a point to prove. Mou's time in Madrid
didn't end well and a lot of his former charges were left with unfinished
business. From Casillas to Ramos, Pepe, Cristiano and Benzema, a substantial
number of the players - albeit not all of them - would have particularly
relished exacting revenge on their ex-manager.
The club itself was
less concerned about who won the other semi-final. Florentino Pérez has a lot
of respect for Atlético and Enrique Cerezo, with whom he has an excellent
relationship, so he is happy enough with the outcome and the chance to meet the
'Rojiblancos' in an all-Madrid affair. Equally, he would have had no problem
facing Chelsea either, as he still gets on with Mourinho, with whom he parted
ways on amicable ter
The Real Madrid players now know that Atlético
await them in Lisbon. This has come as a disappointment. As soon as the
final whistle was blown in Munich, the 'Los Blancos' squad began to
look ahead to the final and the verdict was virtually unanimous: they
wanted Chelsea.
It goes without saying that this is by no means a slight on Atlético. However, there were several reasons why the Real players were keen to take on Chelsea. José Mourinho was chief among them. Large sections of the 'Merengues' dressing room have a score to settle with the Portuguese coach. This much was obvious during the pre-season fixture between the two teams in Los Angeles, in which Real looked like they had a point to prove. Mou's time in Madrid didn't end well and a lot of his former charges were left with unfinished business. From Casillas to Ramos, Pepe, Cristiano and Benzema, a substantial number of the players - albeit not all of them - would have particularly relished exacting revenge on their ex-manager.
The club itself was less concerned about who won the other semi-final. Florentino Pérez has a lot of respect for Atlético and Enrique Cerezo, with whom he has an excellent relationship, so he is happy enough with the outcome and the chance to meet the 'Rojiblancos' in an all-Madrid affair. Equally, he would have had no problem facing Chelsea either, as he still gets on with Mourinho, with whom he parted ways on amicable ter
It goes without saying that this is by no means a slight on Atlético. However, there were several reasons why the Real players were keen to take on Chelsea. José Mourinho was chief among them. Large sections of the 'Merengues' dressing room have a score to settle with the Portuguese coach. This much was obvious during the pre-season fixture between the two teams in Los Angeles, in which Real looked like they had a point to prove. Mou's time in Madrid didn't end well and a lot of his former charges were left with unfinished business. From Casillas to Ramos, Pepe, Cristiano and Benzema, a substantial number of the players - albeit not all of them - would have particularly relished exacting revenge on their ex-manager.
The club itself was less concerned about who won the other semi-final. Florentino Pérez has a lot of respect for Atlético and Enrique Cerezo, with whom he has an excellent relationship, so he is happy enough with the outcome and the chance to meet the 'Rojiblancos' in an all-Madrid affair. Equally, he would have had no problem facing Chelsea either, as he still gets on with Mourinho, with whom he parted ways on amicable ter
No comments:
Post a Comment