In a Aim unique, Esteban Granero reveals how the most effective supervisor he is ever had performed a pivotal function in los Blancos’ 2011-12 title triumph
When Actual Madrid face Barcelona, the soccer world stops to observe.
Will probably be no totally different on Saturday, though each groups have fallen nicely wanting their very own astronomically excessive requirements in current occasions. In comparison with a decade in the past, El Clasico has misplaced a few of its lustre.
With Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in opposing dugouts, these video games have been about greater than two fierce rivals battling for supremacy on the pitch.
They have been little wanting ideological warfare between golf equipment and managers with conflicting philosophies. Each believed they have been the most effective, not simply in Spain, however wherever. The sense of pleasure and anticipation was virtually an excessive amount of to bear.
“It was most likely the most important combat in soccer since Wenger’s Arsenal and Fergie’s Manchester United. It was an enormous combat. We had totally different plans. We each had nice gamers, most likely the most effective gamers on the earth at the moment,” former Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero tells Aim.
“We had totally different identities, however we have been two golf equipment who have been made for successful and just one might win. It was like (Anatoly) Karpov and (Gary) Kasparov battling to be the world champion in chess. It was an enormous battle. After all, it was very annoying but in addition very enjoyable.”
In 2012, Actual lastly got here out on prime as an important 2-1 win on the Nou Camp set them on track for a primary Liga title in 4 years. Sami Khedira put Mourinho’s aspect in entrance early on, however Alexis Sanchez struck again.
Minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo latched onto Mesut Ozil’s go and fired within the decisive aim from a decent angle, all however ending Barcelona’s wonderful reign.
An appreciation of their opponent’s undoubted high quality solely enhanced the achievement.
“They have been wonderful. That’s why we’ve got all of the credit score, as a result of we have been the one ones who have been capable of beat them throughout a full championship. We received at Camp Nou and we managed to get 100 factors,” remembers Granero.
“They have been most likely the most effective groups ever. These gamers coming from the academy and taking part in this lovely soccer, with the most effective Messi ever doing what he needed. It was good to see, and it was good to play towards, however we have been capable of combat towards them and win.”
Mourinho’s demanding administration model was pivotal to Actual’s record-breaking success, as they scored extra targets and picked up extra factors than any crew in La Liga historical past.
In press conferences and on the touchline, he relished taking part in the villain, however was meticulous in how he motivated his squad and executed his plan to disrupt Barcelona’s dominance.
“I spent two full years with him at Actual Madrid and, to me, he’s the most effective supervisor I ever had, from each standpoint,” Granero admits.
“There was the tactical standpoint, in fact, but in addition his mentality and his relationship with the gamers. And the way sincere he’s. Every thing put collectively, in a state of affairs the place we, as Actual Madrid, have been one step behind the most effective Barcelona in historical past.
“We have been just like the underdog. However being Actual Madrid and being the underdog is tough to deal with. He made us consider that we weren’t underdogs. We have been capable of combat towards them and beat them. He not solely informed us that it was potential, he made it potential.
“Within the first yr, we received the Copa del Rey towards them and, within the second yr, we received the league. We made the semi-finals of the Champions League however misplaced on penalties to Bayern Munich. It was the most effective achievement in my soccer profession, and it was due to him.”
Actual’s resurgence additionally owed so much to the irrepressible Ronaldo, who was engaged in a private duel with Messi to be thought of the most effective participant of his technology.
He struck 46 occasions in La Liga and 60 throughout all competitions in 2011-12, though Messi nonetheless pipped him to the Pichichi and the European Golden Shoe with a scarcely plausible grand complete of 73 targets.
Ronaldo’s achievements have been underpinned by a single-minded focus and a relentless work ethic, which Granero noticed up shut every single day.
“He was the most effective participant on the earth at the moment, along with Messi. They have been each so totally different however so far-off from everybody else,” he says.
“Taking part in alongside him was very enjoyable and likewise very inspiring as a result of he at all times needed extra. He was an actual winner. An actual fighter who by no means gave up after we have been shedding.
“After we have been successful three- or four-nil, he at all times needed extra. He was that form of participant. He was coaching arduous each session and taking good care of himself. That’s why he can nonetheless play on the prime stage.”
Granero, who went on to play for Queens Park Rangers, Actual Sociedad and Espanyol, prided himself on his imaginative and prescient and passing capacity.
He represented Spain at youth stage however by no means received a single senior cap as a squad blessed with so many technically gifted midfielders received three successive worldwide tournaments.
It was an period of embarrassing riches, the place they may name upon Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets, Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla and David Silva.
Granero encountered all of them at totally different phases of his profession, however, of his former team-mates, Xabi Alonso is the midfield colleague who stands out most.
“He’s so aggressive, he has the standard, and he has the sport in his head,” Granero enthuses. “It’s occurring in his head earlier than it occurs on the pitch.
“It is a good high quality for a midfielder, and I attempted to be taught from him in each coaching session, and to behave like him inside and out of doors the pitch. He’s a great instance, not solely of a midfielder, however a soccer participant.”
Final January, Granero joined third division Marbella as a part of their formidable mission to achieve La Liga. At 33, he’s decided to maintain going for some time but, however has additionally been planning for the long run.
Six years in the past, he arrange Olocip, an organization that makes use of synthetic intelligence to assist companies and soccer golf equipment to mannequin and predict efficiency.
It’s a topic that has lengthy Granero, whose analytical, problem-solving strategy helped him to scale the heights he did as a participant.
Alongside main scientists, these abilities at the moment are being put to a wide range of totally different makes use of, from forecasting how a possible signing would possibly fare in a brand new crew to supporting monetary providers with fraud prevention.
The final yr additionally noticed Olocip concerned in Spain’s response to the always altering risk of coronavirus.
“We thought it was the time to assist,” he explains. “What we did wasn’t for revenue. We made these fashions that have been capable of predict the evolution and progress of the pandemic, over the following month, in each area in Spain. So, you may anticipate, for instance, issues within the hospitals and take higher choices about the way to handle the restrictions.
“Each one among our scientists left what they have been doing and began engaged on this so as to assist the federal government. I feel it was the duty of not simply each individual, however each firm, to offer their greatest so as to assist the neighborhood, and that is what we did.”