Will Managerial Changes At Barcelona And Real Madrid Finally Bring Civility To El Clasico?

By Parth Pandya
11 years Ago

Barcelona have recently announced the appointment of fairly unknown, Tata Martino as their manager after the ill-timed exit of Tito Vilanova due to health concerns. Real Madrid on the other hand intend to begin a new era under the much celebrated managerAi??Carlo Ancelotti. With both clubs aiming to move beyond the days of Guardiola and Mourinho, will we finally see El Clasico fixtures only making the headlines for the right reasons?

The never-ending transfer discussions and speculations usually spice up the off-season period in a football calendar but this year is slightly different. A number of widely awaited moves have already been materialized ai??i?? something in contrast with the trend of clubs waiting for the D-day to strike a deal only to buy the services of a player at ridiculously inflated prices. Not that the deals that have been secured are any more reasonable from a financial perspective but at least the picture is slightly clearer this time around regarding the big name transfers than what it usually is during this time of the year.

The anxiety to see some of the more popular players ply their trade at their new clubs is a very refreshing element in club football and is something fans always look forward to. However, the on-going transfer window has forced the players take a backseat as far as tabloid and broadsheet headlines are concerned. The limelight for a change has been completely diverted to the managers as a number of big clubs in Europe are undergoing a change of guard as the new season inches closer. With the modern day demands of football, hiring and firing of managers has become too mainstream a process to even note with great attention. Ask Maurizio Zamparini about it and heai??i??d tell you more.

However, the reason the world must stand up and take notice of the managerial changes that the football world is about to see in the new season is, as many as ten European clubs of significant merit will play under a new leadership ai??i?? hardly a familiar scene, at least from the recent memory. From influencing the transfer activities of these clubs in over the next one month to addressing the pressers about the immediate and long term club objectives, these new men in charge will continue to dominate the column space till the time the clubs find stability in the new season or perhaps the association is prematurely terminated ai??i?? neither is an unlikely scenario.

Not very long ago, the rivalry between the two most decorated clubs in Spain ai??i?? and arguably in the world too ai??i?? had intensified to the levels hitherto unbeknownst with the sheer presence of two magnanimous personalities being at the helm of the clubs. Both Mourinho and Guardiola never missed an opportunity or two to take a dig at the other and score some important points off the field. But things have considerably changed in two years.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona seem to have moved on and from the looks of it, neither club is particularly disappointed at the termination of the services of the two men of magnetic persona. In fact, quite contrarily, in Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid have now employed someone who is much more tranquilized, calm and composed but that hardly suggests his lack of credentials. In comparison to Jose, the former AC Milan and Chelsea boss might cut a completely tasteless and bland figure Ai??and he may therefore not rise to instantaneous popularity or even unpopularity in Spain like Mourinho did. Trash-talking his Barcelona counterparts will not be something on Ancelottiai??i??s plate and apart from his perennially raised eyebrow, there’ll be little for the excitement quotient from his pressers.

On the other hand, Barcelona have now employed second manager in as many seasons since Pep Guardiola chose to part ways after enormous success in his four year stay. However, Tito Vilanovaai??i??s parting has completely emerged out of situational compulsions and one may say this with good reason that but for these unfortunate developments, Tito would very well have continued to pursue the Barcelona job. While relatively unknown to the outer world, Tito was more than familiar in the Barcelona circles at the time of his appointment and was almost unanimously accepted as the right heir to Guardiola.

But Gerardo Martino doesnai??i??t enjoy the same luxury of fans already being confident of his abilities which is why his appointment is slightly perplexing. In fact, the name ai???Tataai??i?? striking the only reference to an Indian business household of international recognition is not an event of a greatly distant past. But by the time you read this, the newly appointed Barcelona manager has surely superseded the Indians in Googleai??i??s suggested search lists, the moment you insert the nickname he goes by.

The two relevant managerial feats in Martinoai??i??s resume are leading Paraguay to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2010 where they came closer than most expected to eliminating Spain from the competition and reaching the semi-finals of the Copa America the following year eliminating Brazil en route. As a player Martino enjoyed an iconic status at Newellai??i??s Old Boys back home in Argentina where he also served in the managerial role after ending his association with Paraguay.

Naturally, you do not expect one to be a proponent of the brand of football exhibited at Camp Nou week in and week out when so far heai??i??s only had an opportunity to work with teams that are bluntly put, provincial. But it will also be absurd to assume Barcelona chose not to go by the meritorious method in their selection process. Surely, thereai??i??s something about the tactical acumen of this one-time capped Argentina international that the world is not yet aware of. He must have done a few things right in his life to earn Lionel Messiai??i??s recommendation to the board and the latest testimonial from his former colleague Mauricio Pochettino further confirms heai??i??s not someone to be taken any less seriously.

But it will only be wise to suggest that Martino should certainly take his time before finding his feet in a new country, in a new system, in a much more demanding football environment. And the initial phase of his managerial tenure might entirely be spent in adjusting to clubai??i??s culture and customs. It will also be a huge challenge to straightaway start living up to the fansai??i?? expectations, especially against a much more experienced and proven manager whoai??i??s all set to win back the bragging rights for Real Madrid.

This may even force Martino to be slightly reluctant in expressing himself completely, particularly in front of both Spanish and international press. Heai??i??d much rather establish a credibility first by delivering excellence on the pitch than opening his mouth too soon. On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti has been there and done all that before having managed and won titles with big clubs in three different countries in Europe. But if something has remained perpetually consistent about him, it is the grace in his demeanour. He is the last man you could think of to replicate Mourinhoai??i??s sensationalistic remarks against rival clubs and also his personal detractors ai??i?? which may include home fans and at times former club legends too.

So essentially, the new season will now have two gentlemen respectively in charge of Real Madrid and Barcelona who are far from likely to unnecessarily intensify the already heated rivalry among the two clubs. While one clearly advocates gentlemanly conduct, the other is perhaps too unacquainted with the system just yet. Neither of the managers may therefore fancy demeaning the other too much and the same may reflect in their respective team talks and the eventual nature of the game too.

Make no mistake; Real Madrid and Barcelona are not going to start loving each other overnight. But the animosity levels between the two clubs need to be considerably brought down and the lack of attention that each of these managers is likely to pay to the other club could just be what the doctor ordered.

With Mourinho and Guardiola being at the helm, the annual El Clasico fixtures had become more of a stage for both of them to win a personal feud and score a point against the other by passing a remark in the press thatai??i??d be far from respectful. Whether deliberately or otherwise, but these heated vibes quite categorically transcended the dressing room barriers and reflected in the needless scuffles the players engaged in.

Any high-profile game of football involving prestigious clubs ai??i?? particularly domestic rivals ai??i?? will always be played at a certain level of intensity and cacoethes, without which the fixture would lose its sheen but the El Clasico games played under the Mourinho-Guardiola era managed to surpass what can be classified only as a footballing outburst. So much so that the neutrals stopped losing their sleeps at the prospect of watching those supremely talented bunch of players in action against each other for the continuous menace created during the games often overshadowed the alluring football on display.

Spainai??i??s supremacy has been very evidently challenged both at the club level and on the international stage. In order to re-confirm its status as the best league in the world, it is therefore vital for the two biggest clubs in La Liga to advertise everything enviable about Spanish football. And now is the time to do so by winning more plaudits for staying grounded and humble.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona need to shun what is perceived as their sense of arrogance among the fans and followers of other clubs and leagues. And both having done away with extremely adroit but at the same time a little too conceited characters in Mourinho and Guardiola could be propitious signs for the much needed turnaround that the clubs need on a PR front.

In the final week of October later this year, as the two teams collide, we might just see Varane tackle Messi in an intense duel and the very next moment help the Argentine get back on his feet for the two to resume business straightaway ai??i?? rather than seeing Valdes run the length of the pitch to grab Varane by his collar only for both sets of players to engross into a futile fracas that sees Sergio Ramos knock a senior Barcelona player down.

Categories: Barcelona, Features, Real Madrid, Spanish La Liga
Tags: FC Barcelona Real Madrid

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