4-0, 4-1 and Pep talks

Since the Boston bomb attack, security and safety have become topmost on governments and businesses priorities, yet again. The Boston attack came with a lesson that terrorism could come from unexpected sources. But the lesson was lost on some people and businesses and they are paying dearly for it. That explains the 4-0, 4-1 respective losses of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

I wished Bayern Munich would beat Barcelona, but never expected an humiliation. I never saw Borrussia Dortmund as a threat to Madrid but Lewandowski dusted Mourinho's CV. Like the athletes approaching the finish line at Boston, the Spanish giants never envisaged any other challenge than breasting the tape but the Germans have the blasts ready.


Several reasons have been given for the falls of the Classico duos but I have more.


1. No more Pep talks.
The exit of Pep Guardiola from the La Liga stage seems to have created an unhealthy vacuum for the Spanish league. Mourinho no more sees Barcelona as a threat and the remaining 18 clubs put together are not worth the threat of Southampton on their good day in the premiership. Barcelona's first eleven is now fairly predictable, so a good coach can do the permutation and work out the mathematics for a favorable result (most are yet to factor in Messi in the solution).


And with the Pep talk went the flare that characterised the Classicos and by implication, Spanish representatives that lacked the bite when it mattered, apologies to Malaga!


2. Too much of Messi really turned it messy.

For Real Madrid, it was pure lack of depth but for Barcelona it was too much of Messi. A friend made a joke on Facebook that Messi wears jersey No 10 because he's equivalent to 10 men on the field. Against the Germans, Alaba and Dante took good and careful care of the ten-man and the other just ran around the field for 90 minutes. Barcelona's dependence on Lionel Messi will still pay in the La Liga for one or two more seasons, then it will end.


3. La Liga is Faaji

Klopp, Dortmund's coach rightly noted that "La Liga is Faaji". He claims that teams in the Spanish league pamper the duo of Madrid and Barcelona; a luxury the German couldn't avail. Too much space, that makes Messi dribble 7 different players and still net a goal. Too much time that makes Ronaldo do funny monkey tricks on colleagues and several other 'kantankantan' like that. I wonder which Chelsea team Messi would do such moves with, was it the one with Del horno or the one with David Luiz?


I still find it hard to believe Juan Mata and David Silva played for same team in La Liga and didn't win any title!



4. Is Mourinho ageing?


Since the 'special one' turned 50, some things have been turning filthy for him. Why did he keep Kaka on the bench until barely 10 minutes to the end of the match. The tactician must have planned for a volleyball or beach soccer at the Allianz Arena. With the rate at which his players were ballooning the ball every time it touched their feet, one would wonder if the midfield was ever part of their game plan. If the Portuguese nurture any plans of coaching well into old age, he may need a sort of rejuvenation like Pep.


So what favoured the Germans?


Hand of Pep

Did anyone noticed Guardiola's tactical presence with the Munich side? I did. I believe (right of opinion) Pep took Barca's groove and gave it to Bayern. Those guys played Pep's tactics to the letter, adding a decent defensive discipline. Bayern players were at their individual best. Heynekes may not want to say 'the whole truth' but I am convinced he got the gimmicks he used from his successor to come. Ok, what about the announcement of Gotze's move to Munich, will you say Pep is unaware of it?


Hunger

Although Dortmund had no Pep in the waiting, they were hungry enough to go for the kill. They rushed at every ball with the passion of an hungry Tiger and ferocity of a feral cat. They knew what they needed for a survival and they held Madrid at the jugular until they got it. Madrid on the other hand was like an obese Yak that couldn't run while the herd attacked.

Fledging Youth system

Since the emergence of Muller, Gotze and others, it has become obvious that Germany as a nation and Bundesliga is ready to challenge for the top shot. They have been consistent ever since with outstanding performance both on the world and continental stages.

The bashing and thrashing of the two teams that have produced the most World's 1^st and second bests in recent times, to some, signal the ends of their reigns. I won't buy such in a haste. Madrid still have the depth to spring a surprise on Dortmund and never say never with Barcelona, except for the fact that the genius of Pep is clearly missing in the team.

The paradox of all-German clash on an English soil for a final place won by crushing the Spaniards will be a fascinating one. Trust the English, Sir Fergie will be at the Wembley to feast his eyes on, and maybe finalise the Lewandowski deal as I throw my weight behind Dortmund for an European crown; after which the Pep talks shall continue.