From Castilla to Wembley – AS.com

If European comebacks and that indomitable spirit are the pride of Real Madrid and its fans, then its young players are its slogan.. This is already evidenced by the next white miracle that took place at the Santiago Bernabeu and its idyllic relationship with the Champions League, marked by the DNA of La Fábrica. Ideal. It was a historic evening against Bayern Munich, the main European rival, in which, in addition, a major role was played by the double on time Joselu Mato, the son of Real Madrid fans, able to travel from a pilgrimage to Paris with his father to see the Fourteenth match. a victory to point the way to Wembley and London two years later. In between, he was relegated twice with Alaves and Espanyol, and at 34, on loan at Espanyol, he reached the peak of a rollercoaster of a career full of chapters. “In my dreams the nights are not as beautiful as these”said.

“Joselu is a fantastic reflection of what this team is all about. A player who has contributed a lot this season even though he hasn’t had too many minutes. He never lost confidence and always thought he could contribute,” said Carlo Ancelotti. Among the esoteric aspects of another Halloween night, such as Neuer’s mistake before returning, Joselu’s particular triumph illustrates the objective reality of the sublimation of faith and work, which is also the common denominator for Lucas Vázquez, Nacho or Carvajal, the protagonists of “Champions”. League route with unmistakable homegrown tracks. Coincidence or not, they formed the traditional pre-match photograph of the Real Madrid Castilla team during the 2011–12 season.

This white reserve team, led at the time by current Real Madrid women’s coach Alberto Toril, had one of the greatest generations of talent in memory, building on the successes of that year and future successes. Thus, after a brilliant year with a balance of 27 wins, nine draws and six losses allowing them to dominate their group in the second division, they defeated Cadiz and Mirandes in the final qualifiers to gain promotion to the second division. Of particular note is Joselu, who scored seven goals in those four decisive games. There, the Galician had already begun to show his gift for opportunism, and despite sharing the vanguard and playing time with Jese, Morata, Cheryshev, Lucas Vazquez and Ruben Sobrino, he became the team’s top scorer thanks to his 27 goals. Morata has 17 goals left, Jese has eleven and Cheryshev has eight.

Twelve years later, the future was filled with destinies, most of them remarkable. for this eleventh type of Toril. In terms of teams, successes and even positions. Mejias (currently in Cartagena) and Jesus Fernandez (Voluntari) rotate between the sticks, Carvajal (Real Madrid) and Jorge Casado (Rayo Majadahonda) as full-backs, and Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid) and Ivan Gonzalez (retired) as central defenders. The midfield was divided between Alex Fernandez (Nacho’s brother, now in Cadiz) and Omar Mascarel (Mallorca) or Pedro Mosquera (Alcorcon), giving way to Josel (Real Madrid) Jesé (without a team, despite being the champion of that generation) . , Morata (Atletico Madrid), Cheryshev (Venice), Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid) or Juanfran Moreno (retired), at that time extreme in the attacking quartet. Pedro Mendes, now playing for Estrela Amadora, Pablo Gil, retired, and Rios Reina (Eibar) formed the basis of the second unit.

Factory Champions

Some left and returned without making a sound. This is the case with the brothers-in-law who united in advance during their election in Germany under the name “Erasmus”. Joselu

signed that summer from Celta Vigo in exchange for 1.5 million euros – three quarters (500,000 euros) of what his loan had cost the white team the previous summer – moved to Hoffenheim.. Twelve years later he returned, was forever etched in the imagination of Madrid fans against Bayern Munich and had the opportunity to win his first Champions League at the age of 34.. His prominence on the white route is not trivial, given his frequency of participation: five goals in ten games. Although his average is higher: a goal every 53 minutes. When many are thinking about decline and retirement, Joselu exudes competitive enthusiasm.

Carvajal, who chose Leverkusen, did not have to wait long for his son-in-law to return home.. Just one year. Cinco Orejonas, on his way to sixth place, won one of the 23 titles won by the boy who laid the first stone of Valdebebas in front of Alfredo Di Stefano and who is coming off one of his best seasons, as evidenced by the Champions League slam. Well-respected due to his injuries, he has gone deep in attack as usual (he set up Brahim for his superb goal in Leipzig) and has improved his defensive reliability. His promotion to third captain is also reflected on the field. He is a leader and feels like a leader.

As Lucas Vazquezto whom the club offered an annual extension. Also a leader. But in his case in the shadows. 372′ and four starts for Curtis in the tournament, in which he managed to show that he had not lost an ounce of consistency, mischief and competitiveness, and also provided an assist to Vinicius, scoring 2-0 against Sporting de Braga at the Bernabeu. And all this without taking into account his penalty scored in the shootout against Manchester City in the second leg of the quarter-finals, in which he once again demonstrated his unwavering conviction, or his performance against Barcelona in the last classic of the league that sealed the league.

Nacho Fernandez, who also has an offer from Madrid, is another man who is collecting moments for posterity in this Champions League., which could also mean his sixth title among the 25 since his debut thanks to Mourinho. Case in point was his perfect defensive display at the Etihad Stadium, one of those “magical nights you dream about as a kid”, as he himself put it. Together with Rüdiger, the first white captain was the mainstay of the team’s endless attacks. blue sky

. All in all, the brilliant generation of Modric, Kroos, Rodrygo, Vinicius and Valverde, recently joined by Bellingham, Rudiger and Lunin, will once again have the opportunity to rewrite history on June 1 at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund. And for this, the genetic component carved in Valdebebas and the Real pride that structures the iron-white bond on which Real Madrid’s recent successes are based seem to play a key role again. Another medal for La Fabrica, European career.

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