beIN SPORTS

By Andreas Vou (@AndreasVou89)

Being crowned champions of Europe is, more often than not, a sign of who has been the dominant force on the continent over the given season, but there can be little such sentiment about the Real Madrid side who claimed its eleventh title on Saturday in Milan.

The enduring 120 minutes which preceded the penalty shootout which eventually steered the coveted trophy to Cibeles was depictive of Real’s route to glory. Lacking a distinct style, on the ropes for large spells and with some good fortune along the way, it is hard to put a finger on just how this side claimed the biggest prize in club football.

It was believed that the appointment of Zinedine Zidane back in January would provide sufficient time to make a judgment on whether the team was in the right hands looking ahead to the future.

The Frenchman, arguably more than anybody, deserves credit for the way in which he lifted a morally dejected squad and instilled the winning spirit that he carried with him so famously in his playing days.

Yet the manner in which Real Madrid won the Champions League makes it extremely complicated to make an accurate verdict of just how good this team is. This certainly will not be a Real Madrid team that will be spoken of through the ages.

To put their success merely down to luck on the field, or the luck of the draw would be a stretch, but it certainly played a big factor. Los Blancos ground their way through the tournament, rather than through their superior ability.

En route to the final, Madrid were tasked with AS Roma, Wolfsburg and Manchester City respectively, sides who hardly set the alarm bells ringing for any of the European elite, and furthermore, had the luxury of playing the second leg at home in each round.

From the countless guilt-edged chances of Mohamed Salah and Edin Dzeko at the Bernabeu, Wolfsburg’s squandered 2-0 lead, and an unadventurous City side, Madrid bundled their way into the final, and eventually crawled over the finishing line. There was no clear philosophy, or distinct attribute for which this team will be remembered for.

Of course, there were some outstanding displays along the way; Gareth Bale, as he has for some months now, looked like the leader of the team in attack. Then there was Luka Modric, the tireless midfielder who never puts a foot wrong, whether in his own or final third.

And, of course, the unsung hero, Casemiro – the Brazilian’s displays in the center of midfield rightly draw parallels with Claude Makelele, who was a key factor in Madrid’s 2002 Champions League success, despite not getting the recognition of the ‘galacticos’.

It could just be down to their love affair with the competition – while other sides win the competition when they are at the very peak of a cycle, Madrid always seem to be up for the fight, regardless of how their domestic campaign might be going. After all, their last eight European cups have come in seasons when they have not won the league. A bit like Sevilla in the Europa League, Madrid seem to come alive in a tournament which they have reigned supreme since its creation.

Zidane has done what he has to do, in fact more so. And in the history books, there will be no footnotes about the manner in which Real Madrid won their eleventh European Cup, nor under the ‘manager’ section. 

However, for a club as big as Real Madrid, their latest Champions League glory seems odd, as if they snuck through the back door to get to the final, and ran away with the trophy without anyone noticing.

There will be long and intense parties for some time in one half of Madrid, yet the way they won it casts serious doubt over what would have happened should they have faced a tougher run to the final.