Barcelona boasts Pedri, PSG flaunts Messi, and Madrid possesses… History. A history that, everyone acknowledges: PSG was overshadowed by the legacy of Madrid, even with the Bernabéu under construction. As Pla once mused while gazing at the scaffold-filled New York skyline,one can only imagine the grandeur when it’s finally unveiled.
Clubs, much like nations, are shaped by their history, not the other way around. Real Madrid’s history is… “eye-filling,” as Míchel once described Mbappé’s impact. The sight of thirteen European trophies on the Bernabéu shelves is enough too humble any visiting footballer. It’s the weight of royalty, akin to what Foxá once saeid about North America: the burden of empire and command.
Santa Teresa once remarked, “This life is a short night in a bad inn.” Yet, Americans believe neither the night is so short nor the inn so bad.
History, they say, is written at night—a nod to the quiet moments of reflection. Reflecting on Castro’s famous line, “History will absolve me,” Cabrera Infante noted that for Herodotus, the so-called father of history, history was “a whore who slept in Procrustes’ bed”: too long or too short, it never fits perfectly. Ortega y Gasset concluded, “History is fun.” The tale begins with Candaules,a vain king who lamented that only he truly appreciated his queen’s beauty. He urged his minister, Gyges, to spy on her bathing. When the queen discovered Gyges, she gave him a choice: die or kill the king and marry her. Gyges chose the latter,founding a dynasty that ended with Croesus. History,it seems,is always written by the victors.
To grasp the weight of history, one need only turn to cinema, the book of those who don’t read books. In *Unforgiven*, the assassin Bob the Englishman (Richard Harris) delivers a monologue on a train to Big Whiskey, Wyoming, explaining the difficulty of shooting a queen due to her majesty, compared to the ease of shooting a president.
“We are the Kings of europe” echoed through the Bernabéu, a chant that served as the drumroll for the downfall of the nouveau riche Parisians.
PSG represents the football arm of the so-called ‘European elites,’ who aspire to rewrite history, much like the french Jacobins. Yet, a historic Real Madrid shattered their dreams in an instant.
“I’m tired of this team that always loses,” lamented French tennis legend Yannick Noah after PSG’s collapse at the Bernabéu.
If catching the flu during the ‘Coviz’ pandemic required laser-like precision, PSG’s performance at the Bernabéu was the epitome of misdirected focus.Their only hope now seems to be luring Guardiola to the bench, the man who, for many Spaniards, put Ukraine on the football map with the signing of Chigrynsky.
Pochettino,known for surrounding himself with lemons to ward off bad luck,found himself battling fate itself. Providence sided with Madrid, as Casemiro’s absence in Paris forced a tactical reshuffle. Without him, Valverde and Camavinga stepped up, pushing the team forward (unlike Casemiro, who often anchors it). This allowed the Vinicius-Modric-Benzema trio to unleash a storm that left PSG’s defense in disarray, reminiscent of the chaos during Martínez Laredo’s era in Burgos. In a match against Barcelona at ‘El Plantío,’ referee Fernández Quirós awarded a controversial penalty to Burgos. the club’s president, donning a Russian hat, stormed the pitch in protest. Quirós responded with a jab, and a linesman struck him with a pennant. Cruyff took the penalty, hitting the post deliberately, as he later confessed to Quirós at an airport, fearing for their safety had he scored. Laredo’s legacy includes gifting Madrid Juan Gómez Juanito,a player whose value today,paired with Benzema and Vinicius,would be astronomical. Juanito’s sale to Barcelona paved the way for Madrid’s presidency.
As a highly professional sports moderator with extensive experience in moderating and debating, I find the provided article to be a rich tapestry of ancient and philosophical reflections on the legacy of football clubs, particularly Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG. The article draws parallels between the histories of these clubs and broader cultural and historical narratives, emphasizing the weight of legacy and the impact it has on the present and future of the sport.
### The Weight of History in Football
The article begins by highlighting the unique strengths of three football giants: Barcelona with Pedri,PSG with Messi,and Real Madrid with its unparalleled history.The comparison between PSG and Real Madrid is particularly striking. Despite PSG’s recent rise to prominence, especially with the acquisition of Lionel Messi, the article suggests that PSG is still overshadowed by the historical legacy of Real Madrid. This is a powerful statement, as it underscores the enduring influence of history in shaping perceptions and realities in football. the metaphor of the Bernabéu under construction, likened to the scaffold-filled New york skyline, evokes a sense of anticipation and grandeur, suggesting that Real Madrid’s legacy is not just about the past but also about the promise of future greatness [1].
### Clubs as Nations: Shaped by History
The article then draws a captivating parallel between football clubs and nations, arguing that both are shaped by their histories. Real Madrid’s history is described as “eye-filling,” a term that captures the awe-inspiring nature of the club’s achievements.The mention of thirteen European trophies is a testament to Real Madrid’s dominance in European football,a legacy that humbles even the most accomplished visiting players.This historical weight is likened to the “burden of empire and command,” a phrase that evokes the grandeur and obligation that comes with such a storied past [3].
### Philosophical Reflections on History
The article also delves into philosophical reflections on history, quoting Santa Teresa and Cabrera Infante. Santa Teresa’s remark that “This life is a short night in a bad inn” is contrasted with the American belief that neither the night is so short nor the inn so bad. this could be interpreted as a commentary on the different ways in which cultures perceive time and legacy. The idea that “history is written at night” suggests that the true essence of history is frequently enough revealed in moments of quiet reflection, away from the noise and spectacle of the day. This is a poignant reminder that the legacy of a football club, like history itself, is not just about the trophies and accolades but also about the quieter, more introspective moments that define its character [2].
### Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Real Madrid
the article presents a compelling argument for the enduring legacy of Real Madrid, a legacy that continues to shape the present and future of football. The historical weight of the club, combined with its ongoing pursuit of greatness, ensures that Real Madrid remains a dominant force in the sport.The philosophical reflections on history add depth to the discussion, reminding us that the true measure of a club’s greatness lies not just in its achievements but also in the way it is remembered and revered over time.
As a moderator, I would encourage a debate on how modern football clubs can build their own legacies while respecting and learning from the histories of the giants that came before them. How can clubs like PSG, with their recent influx of star power, carve out their own place in history without being overshadowed by the likes of Real Madrid? These are questions that invite thoughtful discussion and reflection, and they are at the heart of what makes football such a rich and enduring sport.
