Barcelona and Real Madrid are two powerhouses in world football plying their trade week in week out in La Liga and Europe with success.
However, outside the field, they enjoy contrasting fortunes – the former is a portrait of stability and the latter is eminent for anything but constancy.
Reports of dispute and unsettlement continue to emerge from the Madrid camp, unlike Barca, a club that prides itself on home-grown talent and the camaraderie shared between players and staff.
When a player of the calibre of Lionel Messi declares that he would like to remain a Catalan for life, it provides an insight into one of the reasons behind Barcelona’s success over the years.
It’s the dedication and positive dressing room vibes that has led to a cohesive squad and is a pivotal factor why controversy has eluded the club.
Cracks might be appearing in their game, but when one of the best players in the world pledges his commitment to the club, it speaks volumes especially at a time when players are lured by clubs prepared to splash the cash.
Keeping the players aside, loyalty is shown by coaching staff as well. Former coach Pep Guardiola joined Barcelona as a 12-year-old and spent more than a decade as a senior player at the club before moving overseas, only to return to coach the Barcelona B team in 2007 and then the senior squad in four trophy-laden seasons from 2008-2012.
Current coach Tito Vilanova is also home-grown having held assistant coaching positions within the club in the recent past.
In contrast with Barcelona’s stability, the policy of arch rivals Real Madrid for years has been to snare marquee players in the quest to create a squad of superstars. Additionally, with the management expecting instant success from the squad, the coach comes under tremendous pressure.
Madrid has had seven coaches since 2005 compared to Barcelona’s three in the same period. Moreover, Barca has won a truckload of trophies since 2005 compared to Madrid’s silverware – a dismal three La Liga crowns and one Copa Del Rey.
There’s been widespread speculation of dispute within the squad recently and the ‘Special One’ Mourinho has never been under so much pressure in his career.
Reports suggest that the Spanish players in the squad feel Mourinho gives preferential treatment to the Portuguese players while Mourinho feels that the Spanish players have the support of and are protected by the Spanish press.
Superstar Ronaldo has also stated in the past that he is ‘sad’ at the club. All these indicate to signs of unrest as eventually, this can have a bearing on results as the season rolls on.
Constant shuffle of players and coaches every season isn’t going to bring in success because success doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a long journey that involves meticulous planning and hard work.
Real Madrid is a great club with a rich history in the sport, but the management needs to show more faith and patience in the entire squad a la Barcelona.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Despite the short nature of his tenure as a professional manager, Arne Slot has established himself as arguably the most impressive manager outside of…
Everton won the Merseyside derby 2-0, with Toffees supporters taunting Liverpool after the game at their home ground Goodison Park.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have blasted a hole in Liverpool's Premier League title challenge as Everton powered their way to a priceless derby…
The real concern comes down to football's growing trend of big corporations taking up slices of the world game at the expense of smaller teams.
Round 25 was a weekend of football that had plenty of action. There were five games due to the Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide…
Arsenal fans were outraged that Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson got off scot-free for this challenge in the Gunners' 5-0 win.
