In case you missed it – Madrid vs. Málaga [2012-01-03, Copa del Rey round of 16 ida, 3-2].
It was another of those games where the first half and second half were two completely different stories. As Mou so eloquently put it, the first half was “garbage,” and the team was forced to make a comeback in the second half. That they did, with three goals in about 10 minutes, making the Bernabéu explode. And as Pipita Higuaín put it, “when the stadium pushes you like that, it’s difficult not to win.”
Or else, they were just afraid of an angry and pissed off Mou.
ONE. My favorite – pre-game moments! What caught Marcelo and Kaká’s attention as they warmed up, and got a double thumbs up of approval from Marcelo? This sign, which read, “Marcelo, I’ll exchange my shirt for your wig. Well… actually it’s the opposite, your shirt for my wig.” Love the Marcelo cartoon!
Then we had General Alonso rallying the troupes and posing, and José Callejón and Pipita just looking good while warming up. It’s effortless on their part!
Right before the game began, Pipita made the sign of the cross, and here’s a moment when our players were posing for the picture (the only real posing Xabi actually does, no?) where you can appreciate how good looking everyone on our team is. And I love that Xabi never stops giving out instructions, advice, etc., not for one second.
TWO. The first half is not worth mentioning, so I won’t waste time on that. Everything changed with the triple substitution after the half, when Sami Khedira, Mesut Özil and Karim Benzema came into the game for Álvaro Arbeloa, José Callejón and Kaká.
THREE. In 10 minutes, we scored three goals.
What a comeback, no?
FOUR. Rui Faria once again got himself kicked out of the game, this time for trying to protect José Mourinho, while the latter was protesting loudly to the referee. According to the regulations, Rui will be suspended for the next two games in the Copa, but as this isn’t the first time that he’s been expelled (the same thing happened against Sporting), he may receive an additional sanction.
It was also during this sequence where Mou made this gesture, like he was not going to say anything else. I love the dimple. By the way, I miss suit-wearing José Mourinho.
FIVE. Mou was very pissed off with the team’s performance. As he headed for the tunnel, he picked up a bottle of water from the barrel, and threw it above his head into the stands. The guy that ended up with it was very excited to have it. The subtitle says, “this is the bottle that Mourinho threw. It’s mine.” He was parading it like it was the World Cup.
SIX. Iker, front and back. That’s Pepe that Iker is bending over. Pepe received a blow to his ribs area at the conclusion of the game, and left the game in obvious pain, though he was able to walk off the field. Pepe will have time to recover, as he’s suspended for this weekend’s game against Granada. Sergio will apparently be back for that game, which is good news.
SEVEN. A collection of random moments: Sergio Ramos – back in his all denim outfit, his favorite as of late – cheering on his teammates before the game and hugging Agustín Herrerín; Álvaro Arbeloa looking all hot and sexy as he argues; Iker’s look of concentration; and Karim Benzema stripping off at the end of the game.
EIGHT. A special section for Ruud van Nistelrooy.
This game was Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first time back at the Bernabéu since he left two years ago. He hasn’t been forgotten by the fans, as was apparent throughout this entire game. The Bernabéu was full for this game, and they started cheering for Ruud as soon as he came onto the field to warm up (he responded by waving at both sides), and once again when the starting line-ups were announced for the game. In fact, the cheers he received were on par with the ones our very own players received. After that, the first chants of the night, started by the Ultra Sur, was for Ruud.
During the pre-game greetings, Ruud hugged each one of the Madrid players, and even gave a kiss from his former protégé, Gonzalo Higuaín. Adorable!
When Ruud was subbed out in the 59th minute, he received a standing ovation from the fans, who also chanted his name. This was a tremendous response from us, given that we were losing 0-2 at that moment, and that we were also very, very upset with the refereeing at that point in the game. This tribute then really demonstrates the señorío of el madridismo. We wanted to show Ruud our appreciation for all he did during the years he was with us, not only on the field, but also for how he was off of it. Those who we deem worthy of our adulation – those who have earned it – will always know it.
More evidence that the Bernabéu has not forgotten Ruud van Nistelrooy.
After the game, Iker said, “our stadium always rewards those who have worn this shirt, and they showed with this applause that he had been worthy of wearing it” (by the way, I like that Iker supports the national brands, in that his scarf was Loewe instead of one of the foreign brands). And Miguel Pardeza said, “these fans remember things.” Ruud himself said, “I accept this gesture with all my heart, and humbly. I didn’t expect this. These are things that happen in life and you have to be very “gratuito,” how do you say it? ¿Agredecido? (he was trying to say “grateful,” but didn’t know the word, so the reporters helped him out) … for this, which I am.”
NINE. The Xabi Alonso pose section.™
New year, new poses!
Xabi winking!!!!!!! He does a much better job than Álvaro Arbeloa, pictured arriving at the stadium (the picture reminds me of the most awkward winking photo of all, the Manu Adebayor one, which of course makes it an instant classic).
TEN. The Mou corner.
Luckily, Mou decided not to shut up at the post-game press conference, because he had many interesting things to say…
Mou’s post-game press conference was another one of those that was full of glorious quotes that will be repeated throughout the year. Regarding the poor first half and the triple substitution, he had this to say: “during the halftime, I told the players that it’s a shame that I couldn’t make 11 substitutes, because I wanted to change all 11. I don’t want to single out anyone, I made that clear to them. I only had three changes to make. Those three who were changed didn’t play any worse than the rest. If I had 11 changes, I would have changed all 11. I told them clearly that I wanted to clean up the garbage that they had made, and they had 45 minutes to do that.”
He was only warming up. Then came this quote, about the physical states of some of the players: “there are people who go on vacation, and who view the vacation as a time to rest, and others who see it as a time to enjoy themselves, to travel, and to eat at the home of their father, their uncle, aunt, grandmother, who don’t stop eating and drinking and drinking and eating during the Christmas vacation. And they return a bit… different.”
Then a reporter asked Mou whether it was risky to make a triple change at the half, in case there were injuries. Mou’s response: “I took a risk. One time with Chelsea, we were down three at the half against Tottenham. I did the same thing, and we ended in a 3-3 tie. But if someone gets injured in the 50th minute, the cover of Marca and AS will be, “Mourinho, stupid.” But you have to take a risk.”
And when asked about the reaction in the second half, Mou responded, “ask the players, take advantage of the mixed zone.” He also said it was “better not to talk about the refereeing” when asked for his response to Rui Faria’s expulsion. All classic responses, no?
ELEVEN. Other notes.
Fernando Hierro (why is he with Málaga and not us?) sat next to Miguel Pardeza during the game, and then after the game, had dinner with Chendo at Mesón Txistu. His brother Manolo was also present.
Iker has once again won the IFFHS distinction for being the best goalkeeper in the world during 2011, just as he had in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Iker beat out Manuel Neuer and Víctor Valdés this year (who finished second and third, respectively), and became the first four-time consecutive winner.
Several of our players showed up at the Palacio de los Deportes on Wednesday night to cheer on Real Madrid’s basketball team in their derby against Barcelona. Madrid ended up beating Barcelona 78-74, and returned to the top of the table. Cristiano was present, sitting alongside Irina. And Esteban Granero was there as well; he sat with Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil.
You know, Esteban would make a good spy, if he’s so stealthy that he can sneak up on Cris and Irina like that, without them noticing. Plus, we know that he can speak multiple languages, that he’s very smart and that he’s probably good at psychological profiles. And, he would look great in a tuxedo, just like his teacher, Xabi Alonso! P.S. I love the expression on Esteban’s face!