Mentality, humility and ability.
Some random thoughts on Real Madrid's humbling of Manchester City.
Mentality monsters. Even Real Madrid’s makeshift defence exuded a resilience and belief born of 15 Champions Leagues and European Cups. Even a team that had a fraught Derby with Atletico at the weekend, while City were able to rotate against Leyton Orient, had the winning mindset. It’s partly Real’s DNA, partly the players they recruit and develop with a mental robustness and also the tone set by a serial winner of a head coach. I spoke to Carlo Ancelotti in midweek as he’s kindly contributed the foreword to the Duncan Ferguson autobiography and I came off the phone totally inspired. And I’m a civilian, not one of the players he’s motivating at half-time. For all their recent success over the past decade, City still lack that ingrained pedigree, almost that total conviction belonging to Real that they would turn it around. It helps having three of the best attacking players in the world in Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and, attacking from deeper, the peerless Jude Bellingham.
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Stay humble. City fans’ huge “Stop crying your heart out” banner mocking Vinicius Jr for losing the Ballon d’Or to Rodri was always a risk. Maybe Real fans will welcome City to the Bernabeu next week with another Oasis banner – “Don’t look back in anger”. Vinicius is such a good player anyway - hence in the running for the Ballon d’Or - that it was dangerous and naïve to add further fuel to his fire. Take it from someone who voted for Rodri ahead of Vinicius, Madrid were outraged at their players coming second and their fans made it very clear to the jury. Real are a distinguished, massive and very proud club. The passion of their players, coach, staff and supporters poured into their defence of Vinicius. He was hurt. City fans rubbing salt in the wound simply angered him even more. And City paid the price.