The Coach's Fatal Mistake? Challenging The Executives and the Unassailable Leadership Class
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- By David Brown
- 06 Aug 2026
“Whenever I emerge victorious they are unable to say a word,” Lamine Yamal previously stated, but on this occasion he didn’t win and they closed in for him. Comments were made he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they would meet him outside; the message was words mean little. And that was only the players: further remarks from the preachers in media platforms, individuals who always have opinions.
On the eve the clásico, young Lamine Yamal who says he abandoned nervousness behind in his hometown suggested that the Madrid side rob and complain, according to reports. Additionally, he provided a recollection that on his previous visit he had been Madrid’s home ground – as a youngster with blaugrana braces, a glint in his gaze and his shooting ability was unexpected he had – his team triumphed 4-0. But that was then and the present differed. Moreover, an adult currently, precisely twelve months later, he was beaten back. It was clear, as opponents made sure.
Bellingham scores derby winner as the Madrid club open a gap of Barcelona
As the match conclusion sounded on an intense, intense 262nd clásico that was somewhat like old times, Lamine Yamal walked in the direction of Dani Carvajal, hand out. Rather than taking it, Carvajal did the old jibber-jabber gesture. The match was challenging keeping up with all the action that unfolded in over an hour and forty-five that went before, a match of numerous attempts, multiple scores scored and additional efforts ruled out; now it was impossible.
Suddenly there were players everywhere, running back and forth of sight and converging, police pulling people apart. In the middle the scuffle, Thibaut Courtois was accepting the invitation to continue this in the dressing room area. The Brazilian forward was being held back, him saying to someone else they talk to much. Raphinha hurried to intervene with his compatriot, the defender also present. “It was when we youth,” the midfielder said.
In April, the French star posted: “They rejoice in our defeats like we will never win again. We’ll be back.” Madrid had just lost the derby Copa del Rey final 3-2 after additional minutes, a collective breakdown greeting the final whistle, projectiles flying. A fortnight afterwards, they were beaten again. In four encounters, Madrid had lost on each occasion, La Liga, cup and Super Cup going to their rivals. They had conceded four, five, 3 and four. But there remains the future and it turned out Tchouaméni proved correct.
Only once have the Catalan side previously won five derbies consecutively, under Guardiola historic streak ending with the famous 5-0 versus José Mourinho’s team, and it was not repeated. On Sunday, Real Madrid ended the coach’s perfect record in charge, defeating Barcelona 2-1 to move a significant margin clear in first place of the table.
The Madrid squad required the victory. The celebration reflected this, team members dancing in circles. So did the noise, the Bernabéu more vocal and more edgy than on a clásico day for years: “incredible,” Jude Bellingham called it. The coach echoed this. Asked whether this was a weight off his shoulders, if there had been a psychosis around big games, an obsession, Xabi Alonso responded: “That is the media’s narrative.” But he did admit that the result represented “not just a win, and where we come from and what it means to us; the boys needed that feeling of securing a victory in a major fixture.”
In the previous campaign they had not won any. On fourteen occasions they lost: French side, Milan, English team, Athletic, Espanyol, Betis, city foes, eastern side and London club each defeated them. There wasn’t a single win against a top-tier opponent. Carlo Ancelotti went and succeeded by Alonso yet the trend persisted. The team secured several victories at the Club World Cup, indications of a structure emerging, a game plan, but then came PSG.
That defeat is part of last season, Alonso stated. But the new campaign, under his guidance term, began with six wins in a row before city rivals came and put 5 against them. It was positive beating Oviedo, island team and Pamplona side but what about the big teams? Finally they had beaten one of them as well. And it wasn’t just that they won, it was the way they won.
The opposition had players unavailable: Joan García, young midfielder, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and defender were absent. Additionally Raphinha, an important player might now be appreciated in absentia. Others were not at 100%, Jules Koundé and Lamine Yamal included. Among substitutes they had several individuals who not begun in La Liga, two more who had started only once; two 17-year-olds, four 18-year-olds and a couple who are 19. Plus defender, Ronald Araújo, who finished the match in attack again. Even their manager was missing, Flick banned and stuck in a commentary box. Marcus Sorg, Sorg, was on the touchline three times: he suffered defeats in all of them.
Much discussion focuses of Barcelona’s vulnerable high line, yet they did not attack effectively on Sunday. Among the things that were said at the young player that day, perhaps the most telling came from the Brazilian mid-match, mocking Yamal by telling him: “You’re all retreating balls.” As for their defense, leakier than before with Iñigo Martínez departing, defensive intensity on opponents decreasing and the timing lacking, Levante made six clear chances against them, another team five, Sevilla 5, Girona 3. Last year they trapped the French forward offside eight times in an open clásico; however, lost amid losses, is the fact in the last meeting he scored a hat-trick, Real Madrid always likely to get opportunities now.
With this approach, in particular. The match served as a beginning as well as a significant result. “Going forward we will require a lot of what we did today,” Alonso said. The team had shots in the net on five occasions – three ruled out for offside – failed to convert {a penalty|a spot-kick
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