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It’s Real Madrid vs. again, with an added dose of the Special One

By Peter Tromp is played at a much more leisurely and a lot more hunger, therefore the smallish, if admittedly outstanding (siesta?) pace, allowing for a more new focus on young, albeit already- squid, and how to accommodate the ith the World Cup seem- technical display of football from formed talent with a whole lot still newly arrived Villa into his team’s ingly a distant memory, its chief stars. For those used to the to prove. setup. the world’s biggest foot- pulsating nature of the English game, The Mourinho-era has begun with As much as the Spanish League is ball stars will once again it may seem a tad too languid and a redressing of the balance of sorts, starting to rival the Scottish League Wcome together to compete in inar- considered. though. There has been nothing ap- as the most unequal in Europe, with guably the most glamourous, if not That said, you cannot argue about proaching the Hollywood-scale sign- only two teams seriously vying for exactly the most popular domestic the appeal of names like Messi, Ron- ings of and Kaka, the title in any year and with Real league in the world. Certainly the aldo, Kaka, , , Andres within mere days of one another last Madrid and Barcelona’s budgets be- Spanish envy the unmatched global Iniesta, , Gonzalo Iguain, year. Instead of going the Manches- ing about four times the size of their popularity of the English Premier , or even ter City approach of just buying any nearest rivals thanks to exclusive TV League, but the Spanish League is Zlatan Ibrahimovitz. quality player in site with no plan rights, the difference here is the stars undoubtedly where the style is to be Spain of course famously won the of how to fit them all together in a assembled and the heated rivalry be- found. World Cup with about eight Barce- starting eleven, Mourinho is clear- tween Madrid and Barcelona. Unfortunately, in returning to my lona men in its ranks, but another ly trying to build a squad that will The two cities have a long political opening sentence, the world’s big- triumph for the Blaugrana in the serve his adherence to, as he calls it, a history, and it all comes to the boil gest footballing names play for ex- league, which would make it three in midfield triangle with super fast and on the football field. No one is hated actly two teams, namely giants Real a row, is hardly a foregone conclusion. skilful wingers out wide, hence the in Barcelona more than Mourinho, Madrid and Barcelona, and so we can Real Madrid has finally added to their quick acquisition of Angel Di Maria and the self-coined Special One will expect a resolutely two horse race for star-studded ranks a of similar David Villa upon signing for and Pedro Leon in the off-season. relish the role of being the ultimate the title once more. international stature, and one with a Barcelona One recalls the days of Arjen Robben bad guy to his nearest rivals, who he The reason the English Premier similar ego to boot. I am of course and at Chelsea. Also in will finally get to compete with on League is so exciting to watch is be- talking about one Jose Mourinho. His his first season on every occasion, no are Germany’s young World Cup stars the league table on a week-to-week cause any slip up by the top teams is addition to the Spanish League will less. Despite the riches at his dispos- Sami Khedira and Mezut Oezil. Old basis. likely to result in the pretenders to ultimately dictate the narrative of this al, he will nonetheless have his job Mourinho protégé The Spanish squad that competed the crown snapping aggressively at year’s competition. cut out for him. The first Galacticos has been brought in as well, to add a in and won the World Cup in South their heals. There is hardly ever a dull Coming one year into Real Madrid era, which met with modest success, bit of steel to what has always been Africa was one of the most harmoni- moment in the English top flight, president Florentino Perez’s second had the names of Zidane, Figo, fat a circumspect Madrid backline, and ous groups of players ever assembled with the game usually played at a Galacticos experiment, Mourinho Ronaldo, Beckham and Owen on the he might just prove to be Mourinho’s in the country’s forays in interna- blistering pace and with fearsome obviously fancies himself perfectly movie poster. Those guys were all at shrewdest signing. tional competitions, but expect that intensity. primed to achieve what no one else the tail-end of their careers, so Perez The biggest thing that Barcelona all to end with resumption of The Spanish Primera División, or has managed to do so far: win all has decided he wants a lot more lon- manager will have to on Saturday. La Liga for short, on the other hand, three of Europe’s big leagues, and in gevity for his buck this time around deal with is making do with a rather

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12 The Next 48hOURS www.48hours.co.za 27 August - 02 September 2010