So
people, are you guys still thinking of La Liga to be boring in the title race
as usual? You still don’t know whether it will excite you and make you watch it
on every weekend.Yes
it will be and yeah do mark my words. It will be very exciting this year
without a doubt. This time more than two teams will be challenging for it and
the title-won would not be with big point margin but with that of premier
league’s margin.
You
guys would be wondering what does make me think of that, right?
Well
there is not one reason behind it, there are many. Let’s have a look at couple
of them.
Rise of the dark horses:
Like
all the storms thunderhead for bad lucks can only hover on one place for so
long. Real Madrid who were planning for a great parade on 17th May
had to endure a fruitless season thanks to non other than their city rivals
Athletico who not only won the Copa del Rey on Real’s home but ended their
torment of not winning against them for over a decade and to put cherry on the
top they celebrated this title on the sunny day of Madrid with their fans densely
packed at the center of the Florence next to the famous Neptune statue.
There
is no doubt that Real Madrid and Barcelona are Spain’s La Liga’s top dogs. They
cannot be outmuscled financially and their star studded squad have no match in
the whole World. But still Los Colchoneros managed to keep Real away from the
second spot until Real Sociedad became the first and the only team until then who
managed to take all the 3 points from Vincente Calderon roughly two months shy
of the season’s conclusion. If this past season has shown us something than its
only that Ronaldo, Messi and Company maybe untouchables. However they are not
immortals!
Athletico
have filled Falcao’s boot with David Villa for only 5m and who happens to be
the top scorer of Spain. Apart from Villa they have signed 16 new players out
of which 7 are on loan. Among them Rizzi and Perez are worth mentioning.
They
have send out a clear message to their rivals that they are here for the LA
Liga title and would not settle for anything less. It’s a little early to say
but having won three out of three matches in La Liga and only letting Barca win
Spanish Super Cup on away goals sends out an intelligible signal.
Coming
to the second team who showed what they are capable of in the last season. From
the start of the season they showed they mean business and gave every team a
really hard time. Yes, I am talking about Real Sociedad who was a surprise
package. Who would have thought that Real Sociedad will finish the season
strongly sitting in the fourth place and qualifying for Europe’s elite
competition. Last time they played in a UCL was in 03-04 season where they got
kicked out by Lyon in the first knock-out round.
Off
course they won’t be aiming for 3rd spot but yeah they have what it
takes to retain their 4th spot because of the quality they have
added with Granero, Abaroa, and Vega etc. in the squad.
Changes
of figures in the Dugout:
There’s
been a change in the frost line club of Spain’s La Liga. Both of the top clubs
of Spain have undergone huge vary in the dressing room. No, I am not talking
about the new players but the new managers. Real Madrid after it emerged that
Mourinho or “The Special One” had no longer the support of the dressing room
and the back room staff, it was more of a necessity to make the amendments. If
Real would have stuck with Mourinho, not only their star players would have
left but believe it or not they would not have been be able to compete for the
title. He was replaced sensibly and wisely with Carlo Ancelotti who has the
potential to turn Real Madrid into the European Champions as well as the
Spanish Champions. One of the first clever move of Carlo was to make Zidane his
second so the young players like Isco, Illarramendi can see him in everyday
training and inspire from him.
And
as for the Spanish Champion’s coach Tito had to step down because of his
illness after just one year of taking the post and leading Barca back to La
Liga title. He couldn’t continue as he is fighting for his life against the
cancer and in such circumstances Barca came with a new name “Tata Martino” who
is outside of their breed. The name may sound unfamiliar to Barca fans but they
need to know that he is a winner and not an untested individual. He is a very
successful manager but has no experience with any team in Europe. He has won
many titles in Argentina and Paraguay. His special quality is his belief in
youth and high pressing game which brought a lot of success to Barca in near
future.
So
Barca fans might be hoping for the history to repeat itself!
Syed
Abdul Hannan
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