It's amazing how quickly Fabio Capello can redraw the face of his next team! It seems that the Italian has just arrived in Madrid, while Real has already got Kapell’s ears, nose, cheekbones, and wig. Capello does not create the same team at all. His clubs, like children, are all different, but all alike. “Milan” or “Juventus”, “Roma”, “Real” cease to be themselves and turn into FC Capello. However, it’s enough for the maestro to leave — and he is a fidget, he does not like to sit in one place for a long time, as the former team instantly loses its newfound features. It seems that Capello throws a magic scarf on the club’s head, and when the time for parting comes, he pulls it off and the spell is dispelled. Capello's invitation is always a game of results. And immediate. Capello is always the final stage, and never the intermediate.
Madrid won against Valencia as usual, as she herself beat the old, pre-Capella Real Madrid. That under Cooper, that under Benitez “bats” certainly gave him lessons in tactics and pragmatism - and very often turned out to be stronger than the “galacticos”. Real Madrid spoke from a royal standpoint: “Very nice, king.” The severity of the monk’s cape crushed the team, not allowing it to do things that were not compatible with royal dignity. To play the second number is a non-royal affair, to defend the advantage in the ball is unworthy of the king, to close in defense - too. It was these prejudices that the “common people” “Valencia” used, which did not hesitate and did not disdain anything. And on Sunday, the team ran into their own reflection and recoiled in horror.
Capello completely weaned Real Madrid from the lordly habits - the current team is not ashamed to play pragmatic, spectacular football. Whether it is good or bad is for the fans to decide, and in the bottom line, we have the following: the team played at Mestalla “according to the opponent”. Morientes was not on the field, Villa broke already in the 14th minute, and the hosts were left, in fact, without clean forwards. Here is the “Real” and gave them the ball - combine!
Capello's awnings were not at all afraid. Even the small-sized Cannavaro-Sergio Ramos ligament easily defeated the Valencians, and the Madrid team lost the space to the fast extreme midfielders Silva and Joaquin, imposing a viscous, nasty fight on them.
Of course, Capello in Madrid is less than six months old and has not yet been able to completely re-realize Real Madrid - the defenders continue to make individual mistakes. Even the best player in Europe, Cannavaro - and he, after a couple of heroic tackles, almost brought a goal into his own net. At first he filled up Vilya (who was still playing) in the penalty area, fortunately the judge did not notice, and then he circumcised the half-team with a chewing program. However, in general, the defense of Real Madrid looked good. The symbol of the new course was the sissy Reyes, who went into martial arts with the fury of Diarra.
And in the second half, Real Madrid stung - only once, but deadly. A quick attack on the move is another brand of Capello's teams, a run by Roberto Carlos, and Raul scored. It was necessary to see at that moment the face of Canisares - on it were a sacred horror and complete misunderstanding. Where did this attack come from, how could it get through? Here is such an injection - at the most opportune moment for Real Madrid.
We must pay tribute to the “Valencia”. The owners immediately fell upon the gates of Casillas and had to recoup. If they beat this goal, and they could just break off Real Madrid - on emotions, on the nerve, in spite of injuries and sores. But Angulo missed the goal, and the opponent began methodically smashing the game of “Valencia”. And he smashed to smithereens.
The Flores team had only one more moment - the superbly played combination brought Angulo to the blow again, and he again missed. Real Madrid won 1-0 by beating Valencia in its field - in every sense of the word.
“Real” Capello is already quite effective and ready to fight for prizes in the championship, competitive in the Champions League. But this is not quite “Real” - this is FC Capello. Teams of the Italian are always recognizable, but they are also predictable. Capello has always been famous for long-distance stability. In the goblets, however, his brainchildren often lacked a twinkle; they were too rational. By inviting Capello, Real Madrid acquired a lot and will gain even more. But we must be aware that all this is not free. There will be losses. It's not just about the notorious entertainment - in the end, for the sake of victories, the fans are ready to forgive a lot. The question is whether these victories will be. Capello was not used to waiting long; he repeatedly said that he wanted to work in England. And the Italian team is still waiting for the maestro.
After several years of tearing, Real Madrid just needs to lay the foundations, develop a new strategy. And Capello is not suitable for this, he is building a team for himself and for himself, completely not caring for the heirs. He is a Landsknecht - albeit of the highest level, but a mercenary. So to evaluate his work is possible only by results. The president of Real Madrid Calderon, in order to feel calm, needs victory. He put on a strong figure and may well get what he wants. But Calderon now needs to think how to live after Capello. Someday, pretty soon, he will tear off his handkerchief from Real Madrid, and the magic will be carried away with the Italian to distant lands.
Kirill DEMENTYEV
VALENCIA - REAL M - 0: 1 (0: 0)
Goal: 0: 1 - Raul (52).
REAL: Casillas, Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro (Mechia, 45), Diarra, Emerson, Raul, Robinho (De la Red, 69), Reyes, van Nistelrooy.
VALENCIA: Canisares, Miguel, Ayala, Curro Torres (Ugu Viana, 82), Baraha, Joaquin, Albiol, Silva, Pallardo (Tavano, 73), Villa (Vicente, 16), Angulo.
Warnings: Cannavaro (6), Diarra (26), Salgado (43), Baraha (44), Joaquin (87).
November 26th. Mestalla, 21:00.
Judge: Medina Cantalejo.