In the initial interviews for Chelsea managers, there was one concern among the club’s hierarchy that became apparent with a few of the candidates. That was the nagging feeling that they were prioritising going to Real Madrid if Carlo Ancelotti leaves in the summer, and may even have been using Stamford Bridge interest to instigate moves. It is difficult to deny the allure of the Bernabeu, and that includes what the defending European champions will look like for the future, before you even consider all that grand history.
Such a stature also points to how Madrid continue to defy the economic realities of the game. It’s all the more impressive since the expectation was that they would be another continental giant left behind by the Premier League’s wealth. The truth is they still have, at least in terms of pure finance, but the key has been how successfully they have adapted to that. It is a lesson for the game, and especially for Wednesday night’s Champions League opposition.
