Only 22 teams have lifted Europe’s most coveted trophy since its inception in 1955. While in the initial years, the likes of Real Madrid, Benfica, Inter Milan, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest all managed to win the competition in successive seasons, no team has been able to repeat the feat since the introduction of the new format in 1997; with the rule change meaning that teams that weren’t the champions of their respective leagues were allowed to participate in the competition as well
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While every year sees proclamations of how the previous year’s champion has great odds at retaining the crown, it has never been one that has come true; however, we feel this year it might finally be the year that the jinx is broken.
When a team of Real Madrid’s calibre is the defending champion, it would be rash to simply write-off their chances of going all the way twice in a row considering they’ve previously managed to do win 5 times in a row, albeit 60 years ago.
Here we present our reasons why we feel Los Blancos will walk away at the end of the season as champions of Europe once again.
#5 History is on their side
While Europe’s premier competition has boasted of some truly talented teams over the course of its existence, no team has a more storied history in the competition than Los Blancos.
Real Madrid are the most successful side in Champions League history, having lifted the most coveted prize in club football an incredible 11 times over the years; AC Milan and Bayern Munich with 7 wins, Barcelona and Liverpool with 5 wins, their closest rivals.
Among their victories is also a sequence of five consecutive wins when the competition was initially introduced, with the capital club winning each of the iterations from 1955-1960, winning with an aggregate score of 18-8 in the finals’. While this already makes for impressive reading, they’ve also been in three further finals which they didn’t manage to win.
They also have a history in European competitions which predates the birth of the Champions League; between 1949 and 1957, they competed in the Latin Cup, winning two out of the eight editions held. Beyond the Champions League, they can also boast of extensive experience in other continental competitions; Los Merengues have won the UEFA Cup twice, in 1985 and 1986, the Super Cup three times in 2002, 2014 and 2016, the Intercontinental Cup 3 times in 1960, 1998 and 2002, and also the FIFA Club World Cup twice.
With 21 trophies, they are the most successful side in European football and take all these factors into account and realise that no team boasts the same experience or the same understanding of continental football like they do, and when the knockout rounds begin, it would be foolish to bet against them.
#4 The Zinedine Zidane factor
Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid manager finally managed to bring the team together under one banner, with everyone seemingly playing for the greater glory of the club than for individual appraisals or personal honors; under Don Carlo’s reign, Los Blancos finally managed to win the 2014 edition of the Champions League, with Ronaldo arguably in the form of his life.
However, his hands-off approach finally began to show some cracks on the seams, and after a trophy-less 2015, he was let go, with Rafa Benitez hired to guide the team in future endeavours.
While Rafa was hardly the problem, the team seemed to digress further, with the Spaniard only given half a season in charge before the role of manager was handed to club legend, Zinedine Zidane. While the move was initially criticised as Zidane was percieved to lack the experience, the move was arguably one of the best the club has done in the past few years. Under the Frenchman, Real Madrid seem to have a genuine game plan and an identity that seemed to be lacking for so long at the club.
Everyone plays for each other, and the team spirit is at an all-time high. They are currently cruising at the top of La Liga and Zidane’s flexible tactics have seen the team adapt to most opponents with relative ease, Their never say die attitude has seen the club rescue seemingly lost matches, with the 2016 Champions League final the epitome of the ethos Zidane has strived to implement at the club.
His view towards the transfer market and promotion of youth from the underutilised academy has meant that the Madrid club is primed for the future, with things finally looking settled for once; without constant speculation on whether the manager will be sacked.
Their incredible unbeaten run earlier in the season coupled with some exemplary home form at the Bernabeu under Zidane will mean that Real Madrid should definitely be one of the favourites to reach the finals and retain their title.
#3 Great squad depth
It takes only one look at Real Madrid’s squad for the Champions League to realise the immense stockpile of talent that the club has within their ranks. Every position can be accounted for with some very talented players who could easily hold their own against any team in the world.
The squad at Zidane’s disposal has meant that the Frenchman can arguably set out two entirely different playing elevens in varying competitions without compromising their chances and still manage to steamroll their opponents.
The likes of Kiko Casilla, Alvaro Morata, Fabio Coentrao and James Rodriguez who usually warm the bench for Los Blancos could each walk into the playing 11 of many of the teams in the competition, meaning that even an injury crisis would arguably do little to derail their chances of winning the competition once again.
#2 A less vigorous domestic schedule
We’re not insinuating that the La Liga is an easy league; not by any means. With the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal and quite a few more very talented sides within the Spanish top-flight, most league games are intense, with a high quality of football required to emerge victorious from each round of fixtures.
However, since Real Madrid have been eliminated from the Copa del Ray, they only have to truly compete on two fronts, and can approach their training and planning sessions in a much more streamlined manner. Their round of 16 opponents, Napoli have to plan ahead for their Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus, and many other teams in the knockout rounds need to focus on multiple fronts as the season builds up to its business end.
While two of the last four winners of the Champions League in Bayern Munich and Barcelona went on to win the treble, it is an event of rarity, with only seven different clubs having ever achieved the remarkable feat.
With Real Madrid already being able to concentrate the entire riches of the squad in retaining their crown, a less vigorous domestic schedule will definitely aid them in their task.
#1 Winning experience
Every season sees new players brought in to complement the existing squad and certain players who are deemed surplus sold. Madrid, however, were surprisingly quiet during the summer transfer window, with Zidane only bringing in Alvaro Morata from Juventus to serve as a backup to his current striking options; the Frenchman has put faith in Los Blancos’ thriving academy to promote from within.
This means that Real Madrid have been contesting with almost the exact same squad as the one that won the competition last season, with the sense of camaraderie and team-spirit that Zidane has created within the squad still running strong. He has implemented a system that has seen everyone thrive and play for each other, with the accusations of selfishness that were being thrown around seemingly a thing of the past.
The squad boasts of those who have won competitions multiple times; Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Pepe, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, all seasoned veterans and all boasting considerable experience that could help stem the tide in Los Blancos’ favor when it comes down to those crunch moments. It would be remiss to not mention the manager, Zidane, one of the greatest midfielders of our generation and another who has clocked a vast amount of experience in Europe’s premier competition.
All these factors in tandem will definitely give Los Merengues the edge in their hunt for their 12th Champions League crown.
