The much anticipated Spanish La Liga season finally got underway two weeks ago, after the first weekend of matches was called off due to unpaid salaries and allowances in the excess of over 50 million euros owed to over 200 professional footballers. After trashing out the issue and reaching an agreement, the footballers have called off the strike and to God be the glory, the season kicked off with Gijon and Sociedad playing the first match.
The 10-11 Spanish Liga season was won by Barcelona and deservedly so. Although it will be unfair to disregard Real Madrid's challenge, it will also be very wrong to leave out the explosive and determined way Pep's boys went on to win their 3rd successive La Liga title.
Florentino Perez brought Jose 'the special one' Mourinho to dislodge Barcelona from the Zenith of Spanish football, but he knew quite alright that it wasn't going to be a piece of cake. Mourinho led the 'whites' to 2nd place, the semi finals of the UCL (lost to Barca) and the Copa deL Rey title( def. Barca). This season also began with Madrid losing the super cup title to Barcelona again, but with Mourinho, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Josep 'pep' Gaurdiola won his 12th title as manager of Barcelona yesterday at the Stade Louis Stadium in Monaco. The title was his second UEFA SUPER CUP victory in 3 years and thus made him the most successful manager in the history of Barcelona, eclipsing Johan Cruyff. It is not the tournaments they win that makes them so special, but the way and manner in which they win. The win yesterday also put Barcelona ahead of Madrid as the most successful Spanish club in terms of accumulation of trophies (Barca-76, RM-75). Although the los merengues (REALM) have a wide lead in la liga trophies won (31 to 21) and UCL (9 to 4) In all of Pep's 100+ games for Barcelona, his team has dominated possession...this is no mean feat. Even the great Rinus Michel of blessed memory will marvel at the masterclass performances delivered by the catalans week in week out, match after match. It is just breathtakingly easy on the eye. Football made simple and special. With great players like Xavi, iniesta, messi, fabregas, Villa, A.Sanchez and co, it will be a herculean task for Jose to win the La liga this season.
In the last three seasons, the battle for supremacy has largely been between the two Spanish giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Other teams have been way behind them. But this season might be different, especially with the emergence of Malaga as a strong force ready to mix it up with the big wigs of Spanish football. Formerly owned by past Real Madrid President, Lorenz Sanz, who sold the club to Qatari Billionaire business mogul,Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al_Ahmed_Al_Thani last year, the club has seen a huge inflow of cash since the acquisition. The man from the middle east has not hidden his desire to take Malaga to greater heights and he has lived up to his promise by spending big in January and in the summer, recruiting the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan, Joris Mathijsen, Santiago Cazorla, Joaquin Sanchez, Julio 'the beast' Baptista, Martin Demichelis, etc. The squad of former champions of various leagues like RVN and Demichelis is managed by seasoned tactician and former Villareal and Real Madrid Manager, Manuel Pelegrini, who took over the mantle of leadership from Jesualdo Ferreira after a dismal run by the Portuguese coach,. Although they haven't played as a team in official matches, the Andalusians cannot be taken lightly because they have the weapons in their 'Arsenal' to punish any team. In fact, their intention this season, is to slug it out with the Barcas, Madrids, Valencias and co of the Spanish League.
Real Madrid have been active in the transfer market as usual..........bringing in Fabio Coentrao, Jose Callejon, Nuri Sahin, Hamit Altintop, and teenager prodigy, Rafa Varane, to bolster their squad. Barcelona replied with the addition of long time target and catalan to the bones, Cesc Fabregas and speedy wing wizard, Alexis Sanchez. Valencia let Mata go to Chelsea, Joaquin and Isco to big spending and ambitious Malaga, but have brought in the likes of highly rated Argentine footballer, Pablo Piatti from Estudiantes de la plata and Sergio Canales from Real Madrid. New promoted Real Betis also recruited Roque Santa Cruz from Manchester City on a season long loan. Granada also made sure that Andalusia is well represented in the top tier of Spanish football, securing promotion from the Segunda (Spanish second tier league).. the new comers have tied up deals for players like Franco Jara of Benfica and a couple others from Udinese.
The La Liga season has started with criticisms from a lot of Presidents like Manuel Llorente of Valencia CF of and Jose Maria Del Nido of Sevilla, concerning disparity in t.v contracts and all sorts of irregularities. The Club supremos are of the opinion that Real and Barca are given preferential treatment in financial issues and that's why they can sign players for millions of Euros, while other clubs sell their prized assets to balance the accounts. This outbursts came after the first round of matches which saw both Spanish giants winning comprehensively, 6-0 and 5-0 respectively. Barca's was even more humiliating,, because it was against another Spanish powerhouse in recent years, Villareal.
Jose Mourinho will be hoping that his boys show much more resolve this season, as the bid to unseat Barca as the undisputed best team in the World has began.
Ohireime Eboreime
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