Real Madrid have been worried about the emergence of what they call ‘nation clubs’ – teams propped up by the finances of entire states – but judging from the events in Paris on Tuesday night and the reaction to them on Wednesday morning, they needn’t be.
There are some things money can’t buy.
They can’t buy 116 years of history in which 12 European Cups have been won. It was the club’s birthday on Tuesday and as El Pais’ match report put it: ‘They celebrated in Paris by destroying PSG.’
Cristiano Ronaldo led Real Madrid past Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League
Madrid beat PSG 5-2 on aggregate to reach the last eight of Europe’s elite club competition
Ronaldo celebrates with Dani Carvajal after scoring against PSG in France on Tuesday
You can’t buy history and not the sort of history that can only be illustrated by grainy black and white clips of men in baggy shorts. Madrid have reached the last eight Champions League quarter-finals. Winning is a habit that Paris Saint-Germain have yet to develop.
You can’t buy the experience of players like Sergio Ramos who has now played 110 Champions League game for Madrid, only Raul and Iker Casillas have played more – season after season of progressing in the same competition for the same club that it becomes second nature. You can’t buy that.
PSG upset both Barcelona and Real Madrid last summer when they smashed the world record for a transfer by signing Neymar.
But with their prize purchase in Brazil recovering from surgery, and their second biggest purchase Kylian Mbappe taken off at the end after underwhelming on the big night they needed others to step forward and nobody did.
Madrid and Barcelona were rattled by PSG’s £196m move for Neymar last summer
Kylian Mbappe led PSG’s attack without Neymar but struggled to make a strong impression
Gareth Bale came on as substitute in Madrid’s win – showing their strength in depth
Maybe strength in depth is something that you can buy, but it takes years and PSG have not been playing this game for long enough. Madrid won this game with Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Isco all on the bench. None of them were missed.
There may be consequences to that going forward. This was the night when both Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez announced themselves on the European stage. Zidane had picked the pair of them ahead of Isco and Bale and they had combined for the all-important first goal.
Asensio is no longer just a great 22-year-old prospect he looks a mature performer. And Vazquez is no longer just the grinning happy-go-lucky squad player who can be relied upon to give his all when he is picked. He looks worthy of his starting berth.
Isco and Bale might struggle to win their places back for the big games. ‘There are lots of games and he is important,’ said Zidane after the game when asked about Bale.
That might have sounded like a vote of confidence but it could also be interpreted as him being ready to use both Bale and Isco in the now meaningless league games so as to rest Vazquez and Asensio in Europe. That is certainly what he did last weekend ahead of this game.
Diario AS picked up on the fact that Bale never went to celebrate with Madrid’s travelling support at the end of the game. He can maybe feel justifiably aggrieved at being behind Benzema in the pecking order.
The French forward was probably Madrid’s worst player on the night. But Asensio and Vazquez’ performances meant no one was talking about Bale being left out on the final whistle. ‘Bale has to wait his turn; he has no reason to complain,’ said Diario AS’s columnist Tomas Roncero. ‘The coach believes in everyone. He doesn’t just look at the name on the shirt,’ said Asensio.
Bale has fallen out with Zidane. The pair have disagreed over his role in the team, but he needs to find away of getting back on side with the coach and with the supporters who will always side with the club legend Zidane. Now is not the time to be taking on the manager.
Marco Asensio announced himself to Europe with a fabulous performance for Madrid
Like team-mate Asensio, Lucas Vazquez could be rested in favour of the Champions League
Zidane has won his last seven knockout matches in Europe – that beats the previous record held by Jose Villalonga and Miguel Munoz who both won six on the bounce.
As well as knocking them out of Europe Real Madrid also inflicted a financial wound on PSG who miss out on an estimated 13million euros by not making it to the quarter-finals from lost prize money and sponsorship.
They may yet have to get past another ‘nation club’ in Manchester City. And Pep Guardiola’s side will provide a far tougher test.
The likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona will also be more of a match for them and Tottenham have already beaten this Madrid side in Europe.
The experience of Sergio Ramos in Europe has proven vital to Madrid in this campaign
Zinedine Zidane’s side now look in good shape for another crack at Champions League glory
But they look in good shape for a tilt at a third straight Champions League. There was a time when Madrid were the big spenders throwing money at the team in the hope that success would just come.
For three years from 2003 until 2006 they had a team full of expensive signings and failed to make it to the quarter-finals.
Now it’s PSG trying to buy rather than build success. ‘This was the perfect place to come and vindicate ourselves,’ said Ramos. Madrid had gone to the home of the new money and produced the same old result.