The Copa Del Rey Semifinal El Clasico clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Nou Camp panned out just as anticipated. Intriguing, invigorating, entertaining, both teams gave the viewers what they intended seeing from the Clasico clash but one aspect stood out from that encounter, Real Madrid's coach, Santiago Solari has calmed the storm and steadied the ship.
Early this season, with the departure of talisman and all time highest goalscorer for the Real Madrid team Cristiano Ronaldo to Italian giants Juventus, it was only wise to anticipate a struggling Real Madrid team in terms of scoring goals and as well winning matches. Welsh Wizard Gareth Bale was tipped to replace the Portuguese and at least, replicate half of the goals he scores all season. He started the season in good form, scoring goals and blowing our hearts off the painful departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the injury prone nature of the Welsh man struck him not too long after the season began and it has since prevented him from replicating that early season form and chipping in the goals expected from him.
Previous coach Julen Lopetegui would later be sacked after series of unimpressive displays and a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of a Messi-less Barcelona. Then Castilla(Real Madrid B team) coach Santiago Solari was called up to manage the team temporarily at least until a top and well experienced coach is found.
His first test was against a Spanish third tier team in the Copa Del Rey round of 32 and he called up much B team players into the squad and line up, the likes of Vinicius Junior, Sergio Reguilon, Fede Valverde, and they all repaid the faith he had in them by trouncing Melilla.
From then on, players like Vinicius Junior, Fede Valverde, Sergio Reguilon would have very little to do with the Castilla team as Solari decided to fit them into the senior squad. Series of wins, goals and impressive displays followed. The Argentine coach made the tough decisions of leaving behind senior players and replacing them with young, energetic and inform players and it was one of the reasons why he rekindled the fading light at the Bernabeu.
Weeks after Solari's takeover and enjoyable ride on the hot seat, he was offered a two year contract as permanent manager and the honeymoon continued in bliss until Real Madrid's anchor in midfield Casemiro was injured and Solari decided to stick with three central midfielders in Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Dani Ceballos in place of Casemiro in midfield. That match ended Solari's honeymoon at Real Madrid as he lost 3 nil to a lowly rated team as such as Eibar.
As we Madridstas would come to love Solari for it today, he rectified the fault in the team immediately and called up Casemiro's replacement in Marcos Llorente. A former loaned player to Alaves who proved his worth with the Alaves team and earned a buy back from the whites but has spent his return on the bench ever since. The inclusion of Marcos as Casemiro's replacement turned out to be one of Solari's best decision of the season. The young Spaniard was always rock solid, to the extent he not only made us never missed Casemiro, he also made us want to place him above the Brazilian. Yes, that was how good he was.
Ever since, Solari continued to build the team even amidst injuries, he rectifies any fault or hole in the team in time and fills it up. He went too far with his decisions, like benching Marcelo for Sergio Reguilon and Isco clearly not part of his plans but all his decisions has proved to be vital as a team that was once doubted by many as worthy of defending their European crown is now up and running again.
The integration of young and vibrant players into the team and mixing them with experienced veterans has been of utmost help to Solari and not to forget, the resurgence of players like Luka Modric who now seem like an awoken Lion who was asleep for over six months since the World cup. Sergio Ramos looks like he is in his prime despite aged 32 and above. Karim Benzema is playing like the Benzema of Olympique Lyon, with awesome movements and positioning and as well, clinical finishing.
Against Barcelona last night was going to be Solari's first real test with the team. It turned out to be a test he passed very well. The pressing at the onest was topnotch and made the Barcelona players nervous and losing the ball most of the times thereby leading to chances created and wasted. Midway through the first half, Real Madrid were bossing possession, a very rare occurrence at the Camp Nou. They found the net in the first ten minutes. A combination of the front three with right winger Lucas Vasquez putting the ball in the back of the net from a Benzema cross which was sent to the French man by the "Young And Playing It" Brazilian, Vinicius Junior.
They denied Barcelona those spaces they so much thrive in for much part of the match and even though Marcelo's trademark poor positioning seemed to hurt the team sometimes, centre backs, Sergio Ramos and Varane were standing tall to block off any threat from the team.
Gradually the Real Madrid press waned and they allowed Barcelona into the game but still they couldn't create a clear cut chance bar a header from Rakitic that hit the cross bar from a corner.
It took a misjudgement by Marcos Llorente who chose to stretch out a leg for a long through ball over allowing it above him and running towards it to lead to a Barcelona equalizer.
Lionel Messi would later be introduced. They gained more control with him on the pitch but the men in white never wavered. They stood tall and saw the Argentine football wizard the same way they saw others and restricted him to 0 shots on target.
Conclusion
It is a performance worthy of applaud for Solari for the wonderful job he has done with the team in the space of three months. They take am away goal lead back to the Bernabeu and would need to keep the Blaugurana away from scoring when they visit next two weeks.
However, we are going to have to wait until the end of the season to judge Solari but for all I know right now, he has made the team competitive again.
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