Managing Madrid

C/O the90thminute.com

Well, that was nice. Real Madrid looked so good in our 2-0 victory over AC Milan in the Bernabéu that newspapers throughout Europe ran headlines like "We're Back" or "Prestigious Again." Sportswriters talked about a Madrid that reminded everyone of their 2001 versions; the game against Milan recalled starry "noches de Champions" from our great past.

This team, with this manager, scares people--as well we should. We are Real Madrid again, the Real Madrid CF of the 9 Champions League titles, of Di Stéfano and of Puskas, of Gento and Hugo, of Zidane and Ronaldo. This Madrid, Mourinho's Madrid, recalls the great teams of my youth--finally, I can feel genuinely proud to watch my team play against the great European powers.

And with Plácido Domingo playing in the background, madridistas can finally, after too many years, look to the future with optimism.