In the Real Madrid of the experienced, young people have made the difference in the Champions League

From the starting lineup of Real Madrid that started this Wednesday’s match (4) against Manchester City, which sealed the qualification of the Spaniards to the Champions League final, four players have already won four cups of the tournament for the club: Carvajal, Casemiro, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.

Toni Kroos, who also started the clash with the English, was not in the champion team of the 2013/2014 season, but in the three consecutive titles between 2016 and 2018, under the command of Zinedine Zidane.

This group of athletes, used to winning and winning, form the core of Carlo Ancelotti’s team, which since his return to Real has exalted the squad’s experience especially for this class of European duels. However, it was the boys who, against City, changed the face of the semi-final and put the team in the European decision.

After the defeat in the first leg by 4 to 3, the madridistas needed to seek victory in any way possible at the Santiago Bernabéu. With the return game tied at 0-0 in the second half, Ancelotti initiated the changes that would be decisive for Real’s victory.

First, he brought in Kroos, 32, for Rodrygo, 21. After Riyad Mahrez’s goal, he took out Casemiro, 30, and Modric, 36, and sent Asensio, 26, and Camavinga, 19, respectively, onto the field. The French midfielder, dominant throughout the field, and the Brazilian striker, with two goals, transformed the game.

In this Thursday’s edition (5), the daily Marca published that Camavinga “multiplied” and that Rodrygo “was born for the Champions”.

The Frenchman started the move for Real Madrid’s first goal, with a throw to Benzema, who found the Brazilian in the small area. That was in the 45th minute of the second half. In the next minute, the striker took advantage of Carvajal’s cross and headed it to take the match to extra time.

In extra time, Camavinga appeared once again to start the play that would trigger the penalty suffered by Karim Benzema. The striker himself charged and scored the 3 to 1, a turn that confirmed the classification of the Spaniards to the final.

It was not the first time in this Champions League that young people claimed their leading role. Against Chelsea, in the quarter-finals, Ancelotti had already used the breath of the duo Camavinga and Rodrygo to try to reverse the partial defeat for the English at the Bernabéu.

Thomas Tuchel’s team was winning 3-0 in Madrid (a result that qualified them) when the Italian coach ordered the entry of both – Camavinga for Kroos and Rodrygo for Casemiro. The ex-Santos Brazilian scored and sent the match into extra time, in which Benzema appeared to make the madridistas 3-2 enough. Script that was repeated against Manchester City.

“When the matches drop a little in intensity and you have Camavinga, Valverde and Rodrigo fresh, you can change the game with the energy they bring”, Ancelotti had said after beating Chelsea in the quarterfinals, also citing the Uruguayan midfielder. , today one of the team’s references and holder against City.

This Wednesday, at the press conference he gave after the feat at the Bernabéu, the coach once again praised the positive impact of the younger players, but made a point of highlighting the mix that has led Real to dream of their 14th Champions League cup.

“Kroos, Modric and Casemiro did a great job for 70 minutes. A fantastic job, we knew it could cost them a little more towards the end [da partida]. Real Madrid’s future is assured. These three will follow and behind them will come young people of great quality”, said the Italian.

In the Real Madrid of the experienced and multi-champions, there are kids who are very hungry to put their names in the club’s history.