Manchester City vs Real Madrid: With Ancelotti there’s no need for a debate about soccer styles
The blot on the Champions League quarterfinals was the frenzied finale to the match between Atlético Madrid and Manchester City at the Metropolitano in Madrid, an ugly epilogue to the so-called ‘clash of styles’, which that day brought us the curious paradox of those final 20 minutes which had the calculating, Cholista side throwing the kitchen sink at the City defense while the romantic purists were parking the bus and time-wasting. Of course, it was necessity that switched their roles. Atleti needed a goal, City to make sure there wasn’t one, and it’s well know that extreme situations call for extreme solutions, pushing each team to the very opposite of their standard approach. But then I’ve often thought that Simeone and Guardiola followers are more dedicated to their creeds than the coaches themselves.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid at the Etihad
City went through and today Real Madrid travel to play them, with Ancelotti at the helm. He’s a coach who doesn’t need a conceptual framework to justify his decisions. He prefers them to justify themselves, while he limits himself to raising an eyebrow and stating the obvious. It’s good for Madrid, who have achieved their greatest triumphs with coaches of this style (Del Bosque, Zidane and Ancelotti are just the latest examples, but we can go back to the now-far-in-the-past Molowny or Muñoz) who let things flow in the best way possible, limiting themselves to choosing a system where their players feel comfortable and making sure they are happy and in form. There’s more to it than you might think, and it’s in no way easy.
Man City are a fine team
So today we won’t see a clash of styles, just of teams. City are quite the challenge, a team we’ve had a good look at, thanks to the remote control. A team of strength and style, driven by one of the greats of this age, De Bruyne, a tireless player who wins battles and sees gaps through which to thread the ball or himself. A diabolically quick team. Two months ago we’d have had them as clear favourites, but after what happened against PSG and Chelsea we can’t say the same now. Courtois, Modric, Vinicius, Benzema and all the rest will be out there, pushed on by this magical wind that fills Madrid’s sails from the depths of History.