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Win sparks celebration Raul, Morientes savor victory; financial future safe
Posted: Thursday May 25, 2000 11:32 AM
MADRID (Reuters) -- The prized European Champions Cup returned to Madrid - but so did fan violence. An estimated 100,000 people converged on Madrid's Cibeles Square at midnight Wednesday but the jubilation lasted roughly an hour before turning violent. Riot police had to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. A spokesman for Madrid's Samur ambulance service said 230 people were treated for injuries, including 55 police officers. However, no one was in serious condition. Ten people were arrested. Police blamed some 10 fans who tried to break through a security cordon to mount the Cibeles fountain monument in the center of the square, which has traditionally been a celebration point for Real Madrid supporters. The disturbances contrasted with the peaceful celebrations in Paris where some 50,000 Spaniards had gone to watch the Champions League final. Real Madrid defeated fellow Spanish side Valencia 3-0 to win the cup for a record eighth time. The last time Madrid won the cup, in 1998, about 200 people were injured when similar celebrations turned violent. In recent years, Madrid authorities have refused to let the fans get near the statue -- which features a goddess in a lion-drawn chariot holding the keys to the city -- for fear they will damage it. "Two Spanish teams have shown in Paris the best side of soccer. What a shame the overnight incidents in Cibeles marred the festivities," the daily El Pais said in an editorial. The all-Spanish cup final and the post-game violence were the major news items in Spanish newspapers, radio and TV on Thursday. The leading sports daily Marca's front page featured a giant "8" with a crown atop while the conservative newspaper La Razon proclaimed Madrid as "The Greatest in Europe." Spain's Raul, Morientes savor victoryReal Madrid goalscorers Raul Gonzalez and Fernando Morientes were in ecstatic mood after they had helped the club to a 3-0 victory over Valencia on Wednesday and an eighth success in their silver-lined history. "This is absolutely magnificent," said Raul, whose virtuoso solo goal clinched victory. 'We've been working for this for such a long time. "After all the criticism we've had this season we've shown the real quality we have in this team." Morientes, who opened the scoring with a far-post header and like Raul was part of the side that beat Juventus two seasons ago, added: "The Champions League is the biggest competition in world football. I want to stay at this club for years and years." The third goalscorer, England's Steve McManaman, made a magnanimous gesture at the end of the game. Before joining his teammates in pulling the club's traditional white shirt over the change black strip they wore on Wednesday, McManaman made a point of going into the Valencia half to commiserate with the beaten finalists. Macca, who had perhaps the best game of his Real career since moving from Liverpool at the end of last season, spoke to every member of the Valencia side before joining in with the celebrations. "I think this is without a doubt the biggest game I've ever played in. The fact that we've come off winners is fantastic," McManaman said. "I just decided to go in off Roberto's throw-in, the lad's headed it out clear to me and the eyes were shut again and the volley went in," he added. Disappointed Valencia goal keeper Santiago Canizares said: "Madrid played with a ferocious defense and took advantage of the quality up front they have to score goals. I think we're a better team than we showed tonight."
Real safeguards financial futureReal Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz will have breathed a huge sigh of relief -- as well as the smoke from his trademark Havana cigar -- after seeing his side complete a stunning 3-0 victory over Valencia in a one-sided Champions League final on Wednesday. Real may have become European champion for a record eighth time and the second time in three years, but before the match the cash-strapped club was in danger of missing out of next season's competition after a hugely disappointing fifth place finish in the Spanish league. So lucrative has the tournament become -- particularly to a club believed to be as much as US$250 million in debt -- that Real could have faced serious financial problems if it had been playing UEFA Cup football next season. Victory in the final has therefore guaranteed the economic future at least over the short term -- and almost certainly ensured that Sanz, who faces presidential elections in 2001, will lead the club into their centenary celebrations the following year. According to estimates in Spain, Real has made some 6,000 million pesetas (US$32.78 million) from its 17 games in this season's tournament, taking into account prize money, the sale of TV rights and ground receipts. And it is extremely doubtful that they could continue to function in the same way -- as a club prepared to pay top dollar for the world's best players -- if deprived of that sort of income on a regular basis. Sanz, already fearing the worst after the side's final league game of the season, admitted the far-reaching implications of failure to be involved. "Financially speaking, it's a disaster to be out of the Champions League, even for a season," Sanz warned before the final. Fortunately for the club, the Real players responded to that pressure to run out comfortable winners. Sanz and his board can now look towards the future with some security after a second Champions League success in the space of three seasons. The planned rebuilding program at the end of the season, which will follow the expected departures of Christian Karembeu, Bodo Illgner and Geremi Njitap, can now begin in earnest. Valladolid goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez has already been signed up for next season, and several more players should be joining him. Nolberto Solano of Newcastle United is a reported target, while according to the more excitable sections of the Madrid sports press, a bid for Barcelona's Luis Figo may even be on the table. Real's success has also reduced the pressure on Sanz over the purchase of Nicolas Anelka, who cost the club US$35 million when he signed from Arsenal on a seven-year contract last close season. Real has insisted all along they do not want to sell the problematic Frenchman, but if it does not decide to cut its losses it can be confident of receiving most if not all of its money back on a player who scored vital goals in both legs of the semifinal against Bayern Munich. Perhaps less seriously for the club in material terms -- but equally important in terms of prestige -- is the position of Sanz as the de facto leader of the G-14 group of clubs who are lobbying soccer's governing bodies on various matters, principally their desire for more prize money from the Champions League. Sanz could conceivably have continued in the G-14 chair if Real had failed to qualify, but the idea of him pushing UEFA to award more money to his club's chief rivals in Europe sounded more than a little far-fetched.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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