r-e-m-o-n-t-a-b-l-e
Yes, the result was quite unexpected, but I’m not giving up on La Décima yet. If anyone can make a comeback, the type that will be talked about for years to come, it’s Madrid. I have faith in this team. Somos el Madrid y vamos a luchar hasta el final. It’s not impossible or improbable, merely difficult. As Juanito once said, “Noventa minuti en el Bernabéu son molto longo.” We will have the “espíritu de Juanito” on Tuesday. ¡A remontar en el Bernabéu!
A comeback was what all the players and Mou talked about after the game (it was also nice to see that they can admit when the rival is superior). Hopefully, in the second leg game, they will have the intensity, aggressiveness and rhythm (to borrow Sergio’s words) that they were missing in this game.
Madrid has overcome such deficits before. In the 1975-76 season, Madrid was playing Derby County in the round of 16 of the European Cup. The first leg was 4-1 in favor of the English team, which is of course the same result from last night. For the second leg in the Bernabéu, Real Madrid pulled off a 5-1 win behind two goals each from Roberto Martínez and Santillana, and one from Pirri to advance. In the 1979-80 season, Madrid lost to Glasgow 0-2 in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the same tournament, but made a comeback to win the second leg game 3-0 and advance.
In the 1984-85 UEFA Cup, during the second round, Madrid fell 1-3 to Rijeka, but made a comeback in the Bernabéu to win 3-0 for 4-3 on aggregate. In the round of 16, Madrid went down again during the first leg, losing 0-3 to Anderlecht, but made a spectacular comeback in the Bernabéu to win 6-1, and 6-4 on aggregate. In the semifinals, Madrid lost to Inter 0-2 in the first leg. It was during the second leg game at the Bernabéu that Juanito made his now legendary statement: “noventa minuti en el Bernabéu son molto longo,” which was said to Graziano Bini. Madrid ended up winning the game 3-0 to advance to the final with a 3-2 aggregate score. Madrid then beat Videoton to win the 1985 UEFA Cup.
The next year, while defending the title, Madrid lost 1-5 to Borussia Mönchengladbach but managed to make a spectacular comeback with a 4-0 second leg game to advance. In the semifinals, there was yet another comeback. Madrid fell to Inter 1-3 at San Siro, but achieved a 5-1 win at the Bernabéu. Madrid ended up successfully defending the UEFA Cup, beating FC Köln in the final.
I’d also like to highlight the following tweets. Jorge Casado tweeted, “criticizing won’t do anything, whoever wants to can get off of the bandwagon but don’t block the road, 90 minutes are very long! Hala Madrid!!!” Meanwhile, Esteban Granero tweeted this before the game:
Afterwards, he tweeted this, which translates to “I believe now more than ever in this team and in the míster. Madrid will be in Wembley. I’m sure of it” with the hashtag “#halamadrid.” I ADORE him! And those are my exact sentiments!
We also had this delightful exchange between Dani Carvajal and MFC ABMM. Dani tweeted, “after a great and wonderful visit to the room of my friends Álvaro Morata and Nacho, I’m going to enjoy the semifinal.” MFC tweeted back, “a pleasure to see you, you’re as ugly as always! A hug Jule!” Dani responded, “the same to you, brother, it’s great having friends like you! Juleeeee.”
And if you need some cheering up, here are some moments from Tuesday’s training session.
¡¡¡¡Hala Madrid!!!!
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We will live and die with our boys, no doubt about it! I was also glad Mou acknowledged the superiority of Dortmund rather than trying to put blame everywhere, I have to admit when Barca praised Bayern, I thought to myself, I hope Mou does the same if we lose instead of blaming everyone else. We have heart and drive and dedication, and if any team can overcome this deficit, we can! I’m hoping this was just a strong reality check and we can triumph next week. When I saw Pirata’s tweet I wanted to cry. He should be here, not with QPR and relegated to second tier play. HALA MADRID!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for this post, Una. Hard loss yesterday, but you just made me believe in everything again with this post. What would we do without you?!
I was so depressed with the score, but yes, you are right. I believe.
HALA MADRID!
I wish I could watch the matches in Spanish so I wouldn’t have to listen to the English announcers talk about “power shift” to German football. I would like to say two things:
1.Although I think Diego Lopez is doing a fantastic job, I miss Casillas!
2. Granero! I adore him, too, and miss him so much!
I’m with you; never give up until it’s over!
una after all the gloom and doom hovering over us since last night, this post truly somehow cheers me up and fills me with even more hope…somehow i know a miracle might be on the cards…”ten long years for leaves to rake up, our love affair with decima aint goin up” ¡A remontar en el Bernabéu! thankyou for your wonderful post. oh what would we do without you??? gracias!!!
Thanks Una. This very uplifting post is exactly what I needed.
I don’t know – I had a bad feeling about this game but all the same I have a really good feeling about Tuesday. Anything is possible – and no matter what I am extremely proud of this team. This season has been plagued by injuries and drama and still they have not imploded sooo…as long as they’re fighting I’m right there cheering.
Hala Madrid 🙂
esteban’s tweets made me tear up!
I hope he’s right. Let’s kick everyone’s asses in the second leg!
It’s too bad that Real Madrid lost the game! I am Barcelonista, but (despite the expected) I actually like Madrid too! (…well, except in the Clásicos, I admit; in those cases, I’m all for Barça…) But anyway, after Barça’s kind-of-disastrous defeat on Tuesday, I was hoping los blancos would win on Wednesday to chear me up… but oh well 😦 Now both of them have really difficult games ahead, but hopefully they will make amazing remontadas!
And I love your blog!! You are so kind, always saying nice and sweet things about the players, and sharing the cutest and funniest photos (I especially love the ones with Pipita Higuaín)! Aaaand, the stalker’s guide is just awesome hahaha thank you for sharing it!
Thanks Bárbara!
your post is a breath of fresh air. been feeling so down past two days due to the 1st leg blow! thank you for this! am holding out hope!
Win or lose, it’s the team we choose.
iHala Madrid!
Vamos a por la decima!
Who needs Kay Murray? Marry me?
Jajaja!!!!
moments like these (among many, MANY others) are one of the big reasons I adore your blog so much – the optimism, the madridista spirit, the recalling of some of the great moments of our club! you always give me that lift in these moments, when madridistas need it most 🙂
I believe it is possible too – difficult, like you said, but possible. and I almost think the result is what this squad needs – that kick to get us going, so we don’t sit back in the bernabeu thinking “we’ve got this”. both the fans and the players will have no choice but to give it their all on tuesday and I will be hoping for the best!
also, what sweet moments in those gifs with nuri 🙂 it’s been nice to hear the positive things he has to say about madrid, mou, and the players – he was just unlucky with his time here and the injuries. I’m glad he still looks towards the club fondly!
and I adored granero’s tweets too, they are perfect!
thanks una needed some motivation never stopped believing in this team and our boys will prove come tuesday what Real Madrid stands for
still feel la decima is around the corner