Today Real Madrid took a point from their Champions League hosts AC Milan. While in years past a draw at the San Siro would be satisfying, this year, perhaps a little more is expected from Los Blancos. Despite signing arguably two of the best players in the world in Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, leading their Champions League group, albeit only one point out of 3rd, and accumulating 22 of a possible 27 points in La Liga to trail Barcelona by only one point for 1st place in La Liga, trouble seems to be brewing at the Bernabeu. How can there be trouble? Easy… it’s Real Madrid.
This weekend’s 10 man 2-0 victory over the Getafe was impressive but it wasn’t enough to erase last week’s humiliating 4-0 Copa Del Rey loss to 3rd division Alcoron. In fact Real’s president Florentino Perez assured manager Manuel Pellegrini’s job was safe for the remainder of the year. While the loss was embarrassing was a vote of confidence necessary? If so, is one year guarantee a true vote of confidence anyway? Was Perez intentionally undermining his new manager too early in the season? Pellegrini was given command of this super club only this past June after many successful seasons building La Liga minnow Villareal into a frequent challenger in Spain and Europe; but some long time followers of Real wondered about the strong-willedPellegrini’s future given that managing at Real means following orders.
From the outset Pellegrini was tested. While any manager would want Kaka and Ronaldo, those acquisitions undermined Pellegrini’s authority from the start. Normally a manager determines who is transferred in and out but not at Real. Pellegrini wanted to keep winger Arjen Robben and fellow Dutch international Wesley Sneijder but was forced to backtrack. In reality, and considering the later addition of Xabi Alonso, selling Robben and Sneijder only made sense given the numbers, both in terms of finances and playing time. The message however was clear – meaningful decisions are not made by Pellegrini. So when Real Madrid lifer Guti and coach Pellegrini clashed last week at the Alcoron match it was understood by the Spanish press that Guti knew he was at Real before Pellegrini and he would be there afterwards too. Cue the managerial speculation.
For some time many have believed that players such as Real legend Raul and other long time players and stars wield much influence at the Bernabeu. Some observers think such clashes between managers and players have influenced the president, resulting in the termination of some of the recent Real managers such as the double Champions League and La Liga winner Vincente Del Bosque. Interestingly, since Del Bosque left Real in June 2003, allegedly on account of continuing transfer differences with Perez, nine managers have been hired at the Bernebeu and since that time there has been little squad consistency and few additions to Real Madrid’s trophy case. Considering Real’s golden history, two La Liga titles and two Spanish Supercups in six years is a barren spell.
Can Pellegrini therefore really manage Real his way? Can he bench Guti, Raul, Kaka or Ronaldo or perhaps give his stars and veterans less than desirable roles that may diminish their direct impact on a game, or worse yet their legacies? Can he favour less heralded but effective players such as Diarra and Higuain? Can he influence the purchase of players in January? Who runs Real Madrid and if not the manager then what kind of success can Real really ever achieve again?
In the long run (barring salary caps or austere financing rules) it’s hard to see Real being something other than a contender for more than a season. So the questions is can they win titles and more importantly can they win titles this year. In that respect perhaps a one year endorsement of the manager is all Pellegrini needs to have authority over his team. If Pellegrini is guaranteed to last the season with no need to be concerned for next year then maybe Guti and Raul should beware their positions are under threat and new signings Kaka and Ronaldo must also know their positions aren’t guaranteed either. While Pellegrini might have to accept certain players on his team he may be able to determine how to use them. Perhaps then next year isn’t an issue and so with his job certain for the immediate future Pellegrini can demand Real play his way. So while Real may not be settled at the moment and one year isn’t a long time for any manager to build a team, in Real Madrid terms this may actually be a real endorsement of and commitment to the manager because at the end of the day the usual rules don’t apply at Real Madrid.
