| The Royal club lost everything it could this season The richest club in the world, Real Madrid, was left without a single trophy this season. Failure in the Champions League, an inglorious run for the Copa del Rey and a lost championship title at the last moment - this is the result of head coach Carlos Queiroz's year-long work. You cannot imagine a greater humiliation for the Royal club, whose annual budget is about 300 million euros.
The fact that the Galacticos were deprived of the championship became known two rounds before the end of the Spanish championship. In the 36th round, Real ingloriously lost to Mallorca 2:3, Barcelona, which had illusory hopes for the championship, lost 0:1 to Celta, desperately clinging to the saving 17th place, and Valencia did not miss its chance. And after defeating Sevilla with a score of 2:0, the Bats, breaking away from their pursuers by seven points, officially secured the championship for themselves - already the sixth in their history. “One of the secrets of our success is that after each round the players immediately began to prepare for the next game, and did not waste time studying the standings,” said the joyful coach of the newly crowned champions, Rafa Benitez, after the victorious match. -- More than a month ago we were eight points behind Real Madrid, but we never lost hope and continued to work hard. I want to dedicate this championship to my parents, children, especially my sister and, of course, all our fans who supported us throughout the season. It's not easy to win two league titles in three seasons. But I don’t think anyone will say that Valencia became the strongest team in the country undeservedly.”
It's hard to argue with Benitez. Just one look at the standings gives a complete picture of how his Valencia team won the title. “Bats” conceded only 24 goals in 36 matches – half as many as “Real”. “Show me another team that is as effective on the pitch and whose defense is as reliable,” says Valencia president Jaime Horta proudly. - My Valencia is a unique team that shows the entire football world how to achieve success. I'm proud of my players. They are the best in Spain!” Orta really has a lot to be proud of. And it is possible that Valencia will win another trophy this season - on May 19, the Bats will fight with Marseille for the UEFA Cup.
As for Real Madrid and its management, clouds have gathered over the bosses of the Royal club. Head coach Carlos Queiroz's days at the top of the team are already numbered. But this was known even in winter. And the penalty of 2 million euros that Queiroz must receive in case of early termination of the contract will not stop anyone. But after such a failure, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez should already be worried about his position. The next presidential elections will take place in two months, and now no one will remember the merits of Peres, who took office in 2000. But after this season, the still-incumbent president will be remembered for a lot. And expensive, but largely inappropriate purchases, due to which there was no money for defenders and a second defensive midfielder. And a commercial tour of Asia, due to which Real was unable to properly prepare for the season. And the invitation of the same Queiroz, because of whom Vicente Del Bosque was expelled from the club.
Candidates for the presidential position have already become more active. And everyone has their own trump cards and their own programs for how to spend record budgets. So far, the leader in this race of solemn promises is Enrique Sobrino, who heads a group of 18 influential fans of the club opposed to the current president. Madrid lawyer Sobrino proposes to invite Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri as the head coach of Real Madrid, and also sell Beckham and Figo to Roman Abramovich.
Spanish Championship I V N P M O | 1. Valencia | 36 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 70--24 | 77 | | 2. Real Madrid | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 70--48 | 70 | | 3. Barcelona | 36 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 61--37 | 69 | | 4. Deportivo | 36 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 56--34 | 65 | | 5. "Athletic" | 36 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 48--44 | 53 | | 6. Atlético Madrid | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 46--48 | 52 | | 7. Villarreal | 36 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 45--45 | 51 | | 8. "Malaga" | 36 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 47--51 | 50 | | 9. Sevilla | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 51--44 | 49 | | 10. Osasuna | 36 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 37--34 | 48 | | 11. Betis | 36 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 42--41 | 46 | | 12. "Mallorca" | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 48--63 | 45 | | 13. "Albacete" | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 38--44 | 44 | | 14. Real Sociedad | 36 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 44--51 | 42 | | 15. Zaragoza | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 42--53 | 42 | | 16. "Racing" | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 48--61 | 42 | | 17. Espanyol | 36 | 12 | 4 | 20 | 44--60 | 40 | | 18. Celta | 36 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 47--63 | 39 | | 19. Valladolid | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 43--55 | 38 | | 20. "Murcia" | 36 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 27--54 | 23 |
Andrey VDOVIN
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