Real Madrid and physical and mental limits – 05/20/2023 – Tostão

You shouldn’t change concepts and establish new references because of a match, although some games are explosive and remarkable, such as Manchester City’s masterful performance in the 4-0 defeat of Real Madrid, in the semifinals of the Champions League. It felt like a big team versus a small team.

Coach Ancelotti, Real’s management, analysts and the football world are wondering whether the match represents the end of an era of world protagonism for three veterans and great stars, Modric, Benzema and Kroos, articulators and conductors of the team during many years. I think so.

There will likely be a major renovation in the Real squad, which had already started with the signings of Camavinga, Tchouaméni and others. A replacement for Benzema is missing. Real also lost the Spanish title to Barcelona well in advance.

Older age is not synonymous with decadence, as in most professions one can learn and evolve over time, but in sports the physical limit is implacable. In some athletes the mental limit is even greater.

Manchester City’s performance against Real Madrid is one of the most brilliant in history. If City are champions of England and the Champions League, in the final against Inter Milan, which is very likely, they will be among the greatest teams of all time, like Barcelona, ​​when they were also led by Guardiola, Santos de Pelé, the Real Madrid of Di Stefano and Puskás and others.

Guardiola and Ancelotti are two exceptional and different coaches. Ancelotti performs very well what is expected, predictable. Guardiola goes further, invents and reinvents.

Just like Manchester City did with Real, Atlético-MG massacred Corinthians for the Copa do Brasil. Not because he had an extraordinary performance, but because Corinthians set up a boom and still conceded two goals.

Galo performed well and has evolved after the lineups of three midfielders, Pavón on the right, Zaracho in the center and Hyoran on the left. Zaracho is a skillful articulator with a good pass, with a different characteristic from the one seen when playing Edenilson, a speed player.

I just think that coach Coudet should have kept the players after the second goal against Corinthians, as the team created chances and could guarantee qualification.

Who also lost opportunity was Flamengo, as they played the entire second half against Fluminense with one more player. It was already better in the first half, as it pressed and didn’t let Fluminense keep the ball. The 0-0 was good for Flu.

Felipe Melo’s lineup is always a risk, as he is slow in coverage and there is always a danger of being expelled. The good pass on the ball out of the defense does not justify his presence, except in specific moments of the game, as usual.

In addition to Atlético-MG, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Cruzeiro, América and Athletico-PR achieved good results for the second leg of the Copa do Brasil. Palmeiras improves with each victory, a mixture of cool head, warm heart and individual and collective talent.

Referees in Brazilian football, on average, are getting worse every day. Rony’s penalty, scored in favor of Palmeiras against Fortaleza, is incomprehensible. It seems that VAR inhibited and/or reduced the responsibility of the referees, who would be more accommodating. VAR became the protagonist.

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