(Note: post updated with answers to some of your questions.)
Barcelona outplayed Madrid, that’s clear. It’s no surprise either, given that they’re a finished product, and we’re a work-in-progress, as many have said before. In that sense, it’s hard to even compare the two teams.
There’s nothing to do now but learn from this and move on, and hope that the race for the Liga won’t come down to this game come May. In any case, Madrid had to lose sooner or later, and I’m glad it’s sooner, so that we will know where we can improve and then act on that. I know and they know that we can play better.
As for my thoughts on the incidents, I think Cristiano could have been more mature – he shouldn’t shove anyone – and not let Barcelona get to him. He knew that they would do anything to rile him up and he played right into their hands. That said, Pep Guardiola’s behavior was extremely immature (I can see the ball boys doing that, not a coach) especially for a coach, and one that prides himself on being a rational intellectual.
And it’s great that Sergio Ramos plays with so much emotion, but he does have to learn to control himself. Like Cristiano, he allowed the Barcelona players to get inside his head, and we can’t have that. I’m quite disappointed in him, and a little disappointed in Puyol as well for exaggerating the effect of the shove (maybe he got some tips from Pep at the half?). Carles is a strong guy – as he likes to show us – and there’s no way that he’s going down in response to that amount of force. But at least his comical reaction and somersault made me laugh, at a point when I didn’t think it would be possible.
Also not cool or mature: Piqué holding up his hand to the crowd to signal a “manita” before the game was over. Of course it would be Piqué who would do this. The Camp Nou lapped it up, as I knew they would, because they’ll forever be bitter towards Madrid, and they’ll never get over their grudges, as seen by some signs saying that Mou will forever be a translator. Well, who can blame the Barcelona faithful, as all the real big names made the move from Barcelona to Madrid, not vice versa. The Bernabéu, on the other hand, is mature enough to know when to support their team, and when to recognize a stellar performance by the opposition, as shown when they applauded Ronaldinho and booed their own team.
On a side note, Sergio’s 10th red card tied him with Fernando Hierro for the most in Real Madrid history, but with a big difference: Sergio got there in 175 games, while it took Hierro 439 games. He’ll be out for the game against Valencia, along with Carvalho, who received his fifth yellow of the season. Depending on what UEFA decides today, it could be a while before we see Sergio play again.
But what was nice was what some of the Barcelona players said after the game (Madrid’s players were prohibited from speaking). Puyol said, “Those things happen. I went to defend a teammate because to me it looked like a very hard tackle. But what happens on the field stays on the field. I have a very good relationship with Sergio Ramos and it’s already forgotten, I have other, more important things to think about. I have a lot of friends in Real Madrid, and there are no problems in that sense.” Meanwhile, Iniesta commented, “At the end of the game we exchanged greetings, and we wished each other luck. On the field everyone has their own interests, which is normal.” It’s good to see some of them have class.
I also liked what Mou said after the game:
– Barcelona played a fantastic game. My team played fantastically until today. But we have to continue.
– who knows if we’ll return to this stadium this season. Last year, I left here with a defeat in the first round of the Champions League and two months later I went from here to the final of the Champions, while they watched it on television.
– I hope this doesn’t psychologically affect the players. I spoke with them for several minutes and I told them that the championship and the season did not end today.
Well, if anyone can pick these shattered pieces up and glue them back together again, and make them stronger in the process, it’s José Mourinho.
And look at that, today is in fact Tuesday! (But it’s also a postgame day without an ICYMI – I’m sure you can understand why.)
For all those wondering:
– a manita literally means small hand, but in football it means a five-goal tally (since there are five fingers on the hand).
– when Mou was at Barcelona as Bobby Robson’s assistant, he did act as a translator, but gradually moved up to assistant, which the Barcelona fans cannot seem to accept.