If Real Madrid have a semblance of hope, it lies in the hands of Javier Clemente, Real Valladolid’s manager whose team meets Barca at Camp Nou today.
He was a coach of the legendary Atletico Bilbao teams of the 1980s that put Basque pride to the fore winning the Liga in 1983 and a double in 1984 adding the Copa Del Rey. The pugnacious Clemente has a history of polarizing both rivals.
He did it by installing the hardest tackling team in the Liga personified by Andoni Goikoetxea, the Butcher of Bilbao, whose moniker was exemplified by an infamous tackle on Diego Maradona whilst at Barcelona. The Argentinian had to sit the season out with torn ankle ligaments. Goikoetxea also sent out Bernd Schuster with a damaged knee.
Clemente’s intimidatory tactics were anathema to the Blaugrana leading to a constant war of words between him and the patrician César Luis Menotti. Things came to a head as both clubs engaged in a no holds barred brawl in the 1984 Copa Del Rey final. Clemente caused further angst when he joined crosstown rivals Espanyol as coach in 1986 and led them to considerable success.
He did not spare Real Madrid also as he brought the Quinta Del Buitre era to a crashing halt when he snatched the Liga from the Merengues in the 1982- 1983 season. The matches were framed as an attack by the independent minded Basques on Spain’s nationalistic identity emanating from Madrid, the seat of power.
Clemente engenders the most vicious of reactions in fans. They regularly chant, “Clemente, muérete” when he visits the Bernabeu.
“The people behind the bench at the Bernabeu are very uneducated,” said Clemente recently.
Both teams have their fate in the hands of a coach that they despise. What would happen if Valladolid crashes Barca’s party and gives the title to Real Madrid in a shock? Will Javier Clemente be welcomed back to the Bernabeu as a hero? It will all unfold in a few hours.