World Soccer - UK (2020-12)

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

As much asLos Blancosenjoyed winning
the latest La Liga race – thus ending a
two-year league title drought – the fact
remains that Real truly define themselves
by conquests in the Champions League.
Winners of the competition on a record
13 occasions, Real see it as their domain,
their property. Round of16 exits in each
of the past two seasons (at the hands of
Ajax and Manchester City) are seen as
the height of humiliation. Coach Zinedine
Zidane and his players know only too well
that a similar underachieving scenario
will have grave consequences.
Zidane, who led Real to three straight
European crowns from 2016 to 2018, no
longer benefits from that invincible aura.
The Manchester City defeat was the first
time he had ever lost a knockout game
at this level. Victorious in his12 previous
ties, Zidane had further to fall than most.
He will be especially keen for redemption.
And that means going all the way. On
securing the 2019-20 Spanish title, he
claimed that winning the domestic league
was more satisfying than winning in
Europe. Should we take him at his word?
As always Real will be tremendously
reliant on the wise old heads in their

After repeated knockout-stage debacles,
thenouveaux richeParisians finally lived
up to their princely status last season,
achieving a highly-commendable
runners-up spot after defeat to Bayern
in Lisbon. No longer the continental
nearly men, no longer with a monkey
on their back, the feeling in the camp is
that they are now psychologically free to
push onwards and upwards. One thing is
for sure – they are not assuming “job
done”.PSG’sQataribackerswillnotbe
satisfied until the club’s first Champions
League title is safely stored away.
Some claim they rely too much on
superstar attackers, Neymar and Kylian
Mbappe. The truth is you can never have
too much stratospheric quality. As long
as the dynamic duo deliver the goods,
PSG can confidently expect to be in
contention. In a perfect world, the pair
should be straining every sinew to
definitively establish themselves as the
successors to Cristiano Ronaldo and
Lionel Messi. No doubt about it; in the
shape of Neymar, Mbappe and Argentina
right-wing ace Angel Di Maria, PSG
boast one of the most potent front
lines in Europe.
The Ligue1 giants do have their

REAL MADRID

Record winners want crown back

issues, of course. They are short

of top-class options at full-back –

especially after left-backJuan Bernat

recently tore cruciate ligaments – and

only have a workaday midfield. With

long-serving centre-back Thiago Silva

moving to Chelsea, the role of defensive

controller and team leader will go to his

fellow countryman Marquinhos. Last

season the latter was rather wasted

in a midfield holding role.

Is Argentina striker Mauro Icardi

destined only to serve as supersub?

With Neymar used as a false nine, it

would seem so. Last season, his first at

PSG following a switch from Inter, the

goleadorvery much blew hot and cold,

often showing his limitations in big games.

Not enough mobility or work rate.

Have PSG taken their eye off the ball

with regard to midfield manpower?

Unquestionably. Over recent years,

Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Adrien

Rabiot have all made for the Parc des

Princes exit and not been replaced. The

little Italian playmaker Marco Verratti -

who does tend to be somewhat injury

prone - will this season be joined by

Danilo Pereira from Porto and Rafinha

from Barcelona.

Do they have a discipline problem?

The three red cards – for Neymar,

Layvin Kurzawa and Leandro Paredes

• they received at the tail-end of the
  Marseille defeat would suggest so. They
  lost their cool and their self-control.
  Such excesses cannot happen again.
  “I can’t defend the indefensible,”
  declared director of sport Leonardo.

ranks. Skipper and tower of power

centre-back Sergio Ramos, who has

now been at the club for a decade-

and-a-half; German midfield general

Toni Kroos and evergreen French striker

Karim Benzema, who is only behind

Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul on Real’s list

of top scorers in European competition.

After an injury-ravaged first season at

the Bernabeu, a fit-again Eden Hazard

could also make a world of difference

in the attacking third.

What are Zidane’s strengths?

In his aura as an iconic player, his humility,

calmness and ability to man-manage a

squad jam-packed with stellar names. Yes,

he had his problems with Gareth Bale.

But on the whole, he has dealt superbly

with the abundance of egos in the squad.

Is the current XI more impressive

defensively than in attacking mode?

In many ways they are. On returning for

a second spell as coach in March 2019,

Zidane took the pragmatic decision to

have all the bases covered to the rear,

to be more collectively organised. The

reason? Because Cristiano Ronaldo had

left forJuventus and Zizou could no

longer rely on his goalscoring exploits.

Is Real Madrid solely a place

for ready-made superstars?

Not so much these days. Recruitment-

wise, Real now target youngsters of

immense potential and currently boast

a marvellous stable of tomorrow’s heroes,

including Brazilian forwards Rodrygo and

ViniciusJr., Uruguayan midfielder Fede

Valverde, Odegaard and Ukrainian

back-up keeper Andriy Lunin.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Hoping to take the next step

Benzema...A firm

Zidane favourite

COACH

Thomas Tuchel

The German remains

a much-criticised

figure. His detractors

accuse him of failing,

in his two years in

charge,tobeddown

a distinctive playing

identity. Brought in

with the reputation

of a master tactician,

the ex-Mainz and

Dortmund coach

has yet to fully prove

himself in France.

KEY MAN

Neymar

The Brazilian may

notbeeveryone’s

cup of tea. Even so,

no one can deny that

the maverick literally

dragged PSG to last

season’s Champions

League final.

YOUNGSTER

TO WATCH

Colin Dagba

Homegrown France

Under-21 right-back

who is hoping to

fill the void left by

the departure of

Belgian international

Thomas Meunier

to Dortmund.

COACH

Zinedine Zidane

The Champions

League has been

Zizou’s own private

garden, appearing

in three finals as a

player, winning it

once – with Real in

2001-02–andthen

coaching the club to

consecutive titles in

2016,2017and

2018.Animmortal

in this competition.

KEYMAN

Sergio Ramos

Captain courageous,

massive competitor

and infuriating

provocateur for those

in the opposition

camp.Acentre-back

made from granite.

YOUNGSTER

TO WATCH

Martin Odegaard

Real believe they’ve

backed a winner with

the 21-year-old

creative midfielder,

especially after

seeing him shine

on loan last season

at Real Sociedad.

Deadly duo...

the best attack in

world football?