Fabio Capello: "We recovered the winning spirit that Madrid needed to win again in Europe"

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Like the Seventh, none.

All the madridistas who lived it and felt it say it.

Others were born later to join a series, up to 13, in front of which those who lived with 32 years of frustration rub their eyes.

is among those who felt like one more, in 1998, already far from the team that he had created a year before.

"We gave Madrid back the historic spirit it needed to win again in Europe," says the Italian, at 75, in a conversation with El MUNDO, after playing golf with his wife.

He was only there for one season, in his first stage, but it was enough to forge a reciprocated love with Madrid and with Spain, although he has never been able to understand why we Spaniards add so much Modena vinegar to the salad.

The glory belonged to

, but the German, after a bad season in the League, arrived in Amsterdam disconnected, while self-management prevailed in the locker room.

They were his players but they were Capello's men, with

at the helm.

«We built a team with high-quality footballers, such as

,

,

,

, 'captain'

and even

, which we promoted from the subsidiary... From the first moment, I saw that they were players with the desire to do something great.

They needed a winning mindset, after years of not winning anything.

That was my goal.

It was not difficult, because the unit was forged by the sense of team and the friendship between them, "says Capello.

The 1996/97 season, Madrid did not play in Europe, having failed to qualify the previous year, in which Atlético had lifted the double and Barcelona faced a catharsis after firing

.

"Barça had hired Ronaldo and had a magnificent team, with

and

," he continues.

Everyone said it would be a smash, but instead we won.

I knew that Madrid was prepared to win what it lacked and wanted so much."

Question.-

And why did you leave?

Capello does not hesitate in his answer: «I left Madrid because

called me .

I couldn't tell him no, since everything I've done in my life is thanks to him.

But I loved training and living in Madrid.

He had a perfect connection with everyone.

I think you have to know how to correspond to someone who has helped you in life.

I returned to Milan and they fired me the following year.

'Now we are at peace', I said to myself as I left».

It was better for him on his return to Madrid, when he won another League 10 years later.

Although the Italian had temporarily sat on the Milan bench, when

was dismissed , a precursor to those who played under him, Capello himself and Carlo Ancelotti, it was not until the departure of

, heading to 'Nazionale ', when Silvio Berlusconi offered him to take charge of the team, in 1991. Sacchi said that the squad was "squeezed", but Capello won four 'Scudettos' in five years and swept Cruyff's Barça in the 1994 Champions League final, in Athens.

That decision of the 'Cavaliere' left him a debt.

Ancelotti was one of the members of that great Milan de Sacchi, already in the autumn of his career, so he lost prominence.

“You will understand my decisions when you become a coach,” Capello told him.

He did it.

"Carlo is a real man.

A man in the full sense of the word.

He is quiet, with a leisurely style, but if he has to put up a face, he puts it up.

He tells you things without shouting but clearly », he affirms.

Q.-

Define him as a coach.

A.-

Super Trainer!!

He has a unique experience, as evidenced by the fact that he has won the league in all the major competitions in Europe.

He has evolved a lot tactically and has several records.

I think that each time he has coached Madrid, he has known what the team needed.

During this Champions League, his management of the matches, especially the changes, has been successful.

He is missing the last step to reach a title that he has already won three times.

If he wins the fourth, in Paris, he will be unique.

Capello, who lived a stage as England coach, warns about the potential of a Liverpool that "never stops."

, the Colombian,

catches my attention .

Speed, one on one, shot... 'Bufff'.

It will be a 'crack'.

Unlike Manchester City, who also have a lot of game rhythm, Liverpool is more vertical », he adds.

"The two teams are defined by their great footballers,

,

,

,

... You can have a great stadium like the Bernabéu, a crowd that pushes you, the best coach and a great president, but if you don't have quality in the field, you don't win the Champions League.

Why don't the Italian teams do it now?

Where are the best?

Liverpool and Madrid have several of them, "continues Capello, for whom great balance duels tend to opt for details.

and

may have in the band

: «Vinicius dribbles and overflows, and that can give Alexander-Arnold problems, because he doesn't defend very well.

On the other hand, if he plays more time in the rival field, he puts up magnificent crosses for the forwards.

Depending on how the match is decided, that will be a key, in my opinion»

Q.-

Will there be miraculous goals?

A.-

I will explain something to you.

Now he commented on the matches for Sky.

In the broadcast of the second leg with City, with five minutes to go, everyone was already talking about the final that awaited Guardiola's men.

I told them: "Be careful, wait, it's Madrid."

That team plays in Paris and Capello feels it, more than 20 years later, as part of his work and his life.

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