Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has offered his perspective on Real Madrid’s remarkable journey in the Champions League, including their unexpected triumph over Manchester City. Despite many considering City the favorites, Rakitic believes Real Madrid’s success is far from a surprise.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City: A Calculated Victory
In an interview with Diario AS, Rakitic revealed that he always viewed Los Blancos as the team more likely to advance against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. “After they drew City, I said to watch out for Real Madrid,” Rakitic recalled, adding with a laugh, “Many of my friends in Spain told me I was crying a little… For me, Real Madrid was the favourite. Sure, if you look at the teams, City might seem superior. But for me, Real Madrid was the clear favourite.”
He attributed this confidence to Real Madrid’s extensive history and experience in the Champions League. Rakitic further elaborated on their strategy: “Real Madrid were able to play against City the way they like, waiting for mistakes and playing on their opponent’s anxiety about the result, because those little details that don’t go your way can happen.” While the first leg’s result was unexpected, the second leg, particularly with a sending-off, saw events unfold in their favor.
Demystifying European Dominance: It’s About Doing Things Right
When questioned about Real Madrid’s uncanny ability to navigate difficult ties in the Champions League, Rakitic dismissed any notion of it being ‘inexplicable.’ He stated emphatically, “No, well, it’s not inexplicable. For me, it’s very easy to explain. When you do things right, you get results. And Real Madrid is doing many things very well.”
Rakitic emphasized that their achievements are not coincidental or due to special favors. “Nobody goes to Real Madrid because they’ve been given things. When you do things right, football rewards you. And when you don’t do things right, football doesn’t reward you,” he explained, highlighting the meritocracy behind their consistent high performance.
Admiration for Xabi Alonso
The conversation also touched upon the coaching career of Xabi Alonso. Rakitic expressed regret at not seeing Alonso at Real Madrid for a longer period in a coaching capacity. “Yes, that really makes me sad. I would have loved to see Xabi stay at Real Madrid longer, especially in La Liga,” he commented.
Praising Alonso as one of football’s most important coaches, Rakitic added, “It’s a real shame because, for me, he’s still one of the most important coaches in football history. I’m sure he’ll do well wherever he goes.” He acknowledged the immense pressure at top clubs and Alonso’s impressive work at Bayer Leverkusen, hoping for his return to a prominent coaching role at Real Madrid in the future. “I’d love to see and learn more from Xabi the coach,” Rakitic concluded.
Other Insights
Earlier in the interview, Rakitic also shared his optimism about his former club Barcelona’s young squad, advising them to focus on one game at a time in Europe. He also acknowledged a “complicated couple of years” at Sevilla, stressing the importance of trusting the club’s existing structure.
Real Madrid is set to visit RCD Mallorca this weekend, facing several absences, before their highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich.
