BY: FRANK TIGANI
In the aftermath of the controversial and dramatic scenes at the Nou Camp, the blame has been
levelled more at Real and their colourful manager Mourinho, than Barcelona. Gerard Pique,
comically, pointed the finger squarely at Real’s boss when looking over to him he cried: “this is all
your fault, you started all this”.
However, both parties are just as guilty as each other for creating the animosity between them
which has been growing steadily in the past few encounters. While Real’s players have been
criticised for their tough tackling, Guardiola’s men are just as guilty for all their shameful play acting,
Daniel Alves and Sergio Busquets in particular.
Admittedly, Messi’s late equaliser definitely agitated Real who had worked so hard over both ties
and deserved much more. The tackles from the Madrid players got tougher afterwards and it was
only a matter of time before one player went too far with it as Marcelo did.
However, the reaction of Barca’s coaching and playing staff was just as out of order. They jumped
out of their seats and did their best to trigger the fracas and inevitably this led to a reaction from
the Merengues. Wrongly, Ozil has been blamed for making matters worse, however, the German
justificably was upset because Villa decided to slap him across the face.
Mourinho’s eye gauge of Pito Villanova is lamentable, but, there is no difference to the actions of
Villa and the Portuguese. Both were unacceptable acts, yet, it has been Mourinho who has bared the
brunt of the criticism and unfairly so.
Many, like Pique, have rested the responsibility for the trouble solely on the former Inter coach’s
shoulders. But, this is wrong. Not just for his own actions either but because of the actions of his
team. Yet, any group of players who had worked so hard, for two years now, to catch up with
their rivals would have been left severely frustrated after Messi’s late goal. It was not Mourinho’s
fault that his players started laying in the dirty tackles, it was an almost understandable and, even,
inevitable reaction from the players.
Pique bettered himself later in the press room when he later claimed: “Mourinho is destroying
Spanish football”. On the contrary, firstly one would be naïve to think that such behavior could
be eradicated completely from football. Punishments can be awarded, however, it will not solve
the problem. Thus, if the problem, more or less, is here to say then it only adds to the drama and
intrigue of this great football contest which from the perspective of a spectacle can only draw
more fans to watch the next Clasico. If more fans are watching then that means more money is
being channelled into the game – and the game needs more money highlighted by this weekend’s
postponed fixtures over a pay dispute – which would hardly constitute the destruction of the
Spanish game, like Pique suggested.
And while the Portuguese actions certainly deserve punishment, such a statement completely
exaggerates the effect of one man over a national derby and a rivalry that crosses social, historical
and cultural divides. He may indeed by an instigator, but so too were many of the players on both
sides both on and off the pitch, referring to Barca’s reserve keeper who got into the thick of the
action, perhaps due to the lack of action he sees on the field.
Of course, it is not only natural for each side to blame the other. Mourinho, it could be argued,
as a coach needs to show greater discipline. But, when it comes to the Clasico, both parties lack
discipline, both resort to name calling, both resort to childish games and, sometimes, both resort to
violence and cheating. It is part and parcel of the game which will never be completely eliminated. It
is, for better or worse, he to say and no one person is responsible for this.
