Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Twitter Buildup, What the Coaches Are Saying
Sam Tighe@@stighefootball
World Football Tactics Lead WriterOctober 5, 2012
El Clasico is just days away and we're feeling spoiled.
It's been around six weeks since the last installment of the world's most popular clash, and as it seems to gain in frequency each year, we're gearing up for a particularly pivotal one.
Bleacher Report continues its buildup of the clash by bringing you the buzz from Twitter and excepts from what the coaches, players and pundits are saying.
We kick things off with Jose himself, as Mourinho tells beIN Sports that this is the game to watch:
Mourinho (coach Real Madrid): "Everyone likes to play a clasico. And for football fans, the world stops that day." #elclasico [bein]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) October 4, 2012
He's not exactly wrong, is he?
Steve McManaman also shared his opinion on what he thinks is the most important match on the world football calendar.
When you play at Camp Nou, certainly from when you play at home, everyone knows it’s two factions within Spain—the Catalans against the Madridistas, Catalunya against Spain—their instant dislike for each other, their rivalry, their religion.
It’s a very strange match; fuelled by a long, long, centuries-old divisive aim where generally they dislike each other so much.
Switching sides, Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff told reporters that a win for the Madrid side in this fixture has never been more important (via ESPN):
Normally you don’t know what is going to happen, but this time I think that Madrid are in more danger than ever because they are so far behind.
If they lose this one it is like having the whole world falling over you. These are normally the games I fear the most. Madrid will do more than everything to change this situation around.
Mourinho will be under a lot of pressure after Sunday if they lose. Then there is a big problem.
It could be [a tipping point]. If [they] play seven or eight games and—if he loses—they will be so far behind [Barca]. There’s no excuse [for that].
Hard-hitting, but truthful words from the former Barca man.
Getafe coach Luis Garcia is also concerned about Los Blancos' perilous early league position. He wants a Madrid victory in order to open out the top of the table once more (via Goal.com):
That the two main contenders for the title, just seven days from the start, are 11 points apart is not good.
Last year I said the same thing, but the other way around, to produce a more equal league. If they can catch up then they can fight tooth and nail all year.
They have the dynamic for many goals and they are dangerous. In the game we will see Barca dominate, with more control, but Madrid have done great harm in their recent visits to the Camp Nou.
I do not know who will win, but it will be very tight.
Finally, we leave you with non-footballing impact.
CNN reports that this game is significant of the divide between the Spanish and Catalonian governments. Catalan sports commentator Ernest Macia reports:
For every Euro Catalonia gives to Spain, it only receives 57 cents. There is a feeling of injustice regarding the fiscal system.
Also there are the constant political attacks in terms of linguistic policy. For Catalonia the language is very important. Catalan is different from Spanish language, not better or worse, just different.
The Spanish government is trying to erode the educational system where in Catalonia you study in Catalan but also Spanish ... the government is trying to regain the power in the education system.
The Nou Camp will erupt in the 17th minute of El Clasico, as fans belt out the Catalonian national anthem in their native tongue. This is a show of protest, as well as a commemoration to the deaths during Spanish Succession in 1714.