It's Not Just Jose - Introducing The Four Men More Important Than Mourinho In Breaking Real Madrid's Champions League Last 16 Curse Goal.coms KS Leong hails the four key players who helped Los Blancos end their jinx... By KS Leong
Mar 17, 2011 9:00:00 AM
If there was anyone who could break Real Madrids six-year hoodoo in the Champions League last 16, it would be Jose Mourinho.
The Special One orchestrated the 3-0 victory over Lyon from the sidelines. This wasnt an encounter where he could sit back on the bench and casually take a sip of his water every 10 minutes. This was one where he had to really earn his money.
Even from the off, Mourinho had a clear game plan: attack Les Gones right from the start in search of an early opening goal; failing that, they would drop back a little and invite their visitors to come out of their shells, and then hit them on the break. Once Los Blancos broke the deadlock, they would hit the French on the counter again, again and again.
While Mourinho had all the right ideas, there were four men who execution his plan to perfection, each playing a more important role than the mastermind himself.
Marcelo
When he is in top gear in attack and his opponents dont bother testing him defensively, he is one of the best players in the Madrid set-up. This was exactly how it played out on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu. He scored a stunning individual goal, a move he started himself when he picked up a recovered ball from Xabi Alonso on the left flank, cut into the middle, traded passes with Cristiano Ronaldo, shimmied past Dejan Lovren to tee himself up onto his left foot, then fired past Hugo Lloris like a veteran striker.
But he was also more diligent in defence. There were still a few rash tackles, but he took up better positions on the flank that meant he didnt have to double-back feverishly whenever he left his post unattended.
It was his interception and long ball out of the back that set Karim Benzema on his way to scoring Madrids second goal on the night.
Karim Benzema
Another player who has been heavily chastised following his 35 million move from Lyon to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, but all that is starting to change.
The Frenchman has been in scintillating form in recent games, scoring eight goals in his last six outings including the crucial away goal in Lyon three weeks ago and he found the net again on Wednesday night to make it nine in seven. And it was yet another decisive strike.
He scored Madrids second goal in the 3-0 victory, one which eased the nerves, allowed his team-mates to relax, and play more on the counter attack to find the killer third goal.
Benzema is a completely transformed player. So different is his attitude, his self-belief, his performances, that Madrid may very well consider Benz a 2011 winter signing. Not only has his finishing improved dramatically and clinically, he has now become more involved with the team, drifting into wider positions with confidence, playing one-twos with poise, and tracking back to help recover possession.
Had it not been for the athletic brilliance of Lyon shot-stopper Hugo Lloris, Benzema could have bagged a hat-trick.
Mesut Oezil
Have Real Madrid finally found their heir to Zinedine Zidane after a five-year search?
The young German wizard gets better and better with every game and although he may not be as effortlessly elegant as Zizou just yet, he has certainly been effective.
Its not just what he does on the ball thats winning the plaudits, especially from the Bernabeu faithful, but what he does off it as well. He regularly darts 40, 50 yards back into his own half, he puts pressure on opponents, and he tries to pick their pockets every chance he gets. All three were evident in Oezils game Wednesday night and it was one of the reasons why the Blancos midfield was more compact, which restricted Lyon from creating anything meaningful through the middle.
Oezil assisted Madrids third goal with a flick-on header, and he also had a hand in the crucial second goal, doing enough to put off Dejan Lovren and maybe even getting the slightest of touches to the ball to set Benzema barrelling towards goal.
Angel Di Maria
The Argentine may have just proven a point to himself after Wednesday nights victory: you dont have to fall down under every challenge and win cheap free-kicks to win matches.
The noodle-legged winger drew four fouls and many more simulated attempts in the first leg clash. But he didnt suffer even a single foul in the return. It may not be the most pivotal or eye-opening statistic, but the fact that he didnt go down under every single tackle and force the referee to constantly stop the game allowed his team-mates to play free-flowing football. In turn, this gave Lyon less time to regroup and catch their breaths in between Madrid attacks.
The reward for his discipline was a goal. He put the contest to bed and broke Lyons spirits once and for all with a 76th minute strike, racing on to Oezils header and clipping his shot over Lloris.
Like Oezil, he won plenty of applause with his hard work tracking back, as well as the occasional showboat.
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