Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name!
Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho.
Writer’s Prelude. Back again or another Champions League edition of the Daily Merengue
When In Rome
Champions League. And here we are again for another Champions League match day as Real Madrid CF faces AS Roma. The boys in Louis Vutton and
white find themselves facing another Italian squad (and former Mourinho coached squad) who are currently putting in pleasant performances in Serie A. We will find Gasperini’s squad undefeated in domestic competitions with an unlucky draw against Inter, draw against Como, good wins against Fiorentina and Atalanta, and sitting in 3rd place on the Serie A table. Powered by dashing runs from Malen, and a formidable midfield of Dybala, Soule, Kone, and Cristante, expect for us to face a rough 90 mins. Are we the favorites? Yes. But at Real Madrid we know how to suffer.
Press Conference Quotes. Just quickly touching on some of the ongoings today. I just will briefly comment on Tchouameni and Jose Mourinho’s press conference quotes. First, maybe I’m overreacting but I find Tchou’s quote regarding the midfield a bit odd. In a vacuum, this is rather a simple quote that should go unnoticed; however, a bit of me feels as if there was likely an obvious PR answer that doesn’t seem to expose the flaws of our midfield. Surely, the players recognize the current incompatible nature of these lineups but it’s rare for player’s to publicly proclaim it. Again, Tchouameni didn’t directly say anything of his nature but what he didn’t say (i.e., some boiler plate about how they have the right pieces and continue to work hard) speaks a bit loudly.
On Vini. Now moving to Mourinho’s quote. This Vini quote is likely a bit tongue in cheek and I thoroughly expect Vini to start tomorrow but this is just an odd quote from someone who is a master at PR and the media. Mourinho has a multitude of options to dispel any questions about whether Vini is starting. He could have easily confirmed it or evaded the question by stating something as simple as “we will see.” Again, likely a nothing-burger and this is a tiny overreaction but it is a bit weird to state that he doesn’t want to say anything because he doesn’t want to lie. Like earnestly what does that mean? Does Mourinho simply just not know who he plans on starting? Is the choice not up to him? Is there something underlying happening with Vini that we don’t know that may dispel him from playing? Is Vini mentally here with us? All answers we likely will never know but I’ll admit my ears perked up a bit from this answer. It was just odd and not nearly as definitive as when he immediately proclaimed before Villareal that Kylian was starting.
On Endrick. Finally, Jose Mourinho’s quote on Endrick makes sense but I’ll hold my breath until I actually see the young Brazilian play consistent minutes for Los Blancos. I’ve been pretty adamant on stating that Bobby could become an otherworldly talent but it is unlikely at Real because he’s just far far too raw (…and also physically doesn’t really fit in Europe as a lone ST and he doesn’t yet have the touch and potentially willingness to be a RW). So I think it would have been in his best interest to have been sold either this or last summer with a buyback clause. I know that it’s rare that you leave Real Madrid in any fashion and come back but it’s equally rare that you break through at Real Madrid without having some injury luck (e.g., Vini v Hazard and to an extent Rodrygo v. Asencio), some old legs (e.g., Fede v. KCM), or a gaudy fee (and tbh I’m not sure if I actually consider those examples as “breaking through”). Bobby should’ve called his counterpart Nico Paz and learned Italian so he could enjoy the fresh Como air. Anyway, if Bobby does somehow start picking up minutes at Real I can only wish him the best. I have no clue where he’d play being that I’d rather have Kyky or Espi at 9 and Diomande or Brahim or Rodrygo or Fede (if he comes back) at RW. And I know those are my preferences but as far as minutes it looks like those are likely the preferences of every Real manager that’s coached him. But again, we have wild politics are Madrid so maybe it isn’t fully fair to have this critique.
Anyway…Bobby I hope that soon we see you on the pitch. Either on our side or someone else’s. Football needs bright young talents like you.
Cheers,
J
