Last weekend, the "La Liga" championship started, where the first eight matches were already played. After the first weekend of the Spanish championship, the most visited football news portal in the country - "Eurofootball.com" - interviewed sports journalist, commentator, and fan of Madrid's "Real" team, Paulius Jakelis, who agreed to share his thoughts on Madrid's pre-season and this season's "La Liga" championship.
- Since when and why did you start supporting the "Real" team?
- It would be difficult to just say a specific day. It's like a relationship - you meet, you are fascinated, eventually you just fall in love. Everything happened gradually. After all, we all admire the game of the brightest stars on the planet, and when such geniuses as Zinedine Zidane, Raul, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, and others are brought together in one place, that team deservedly became known as "Los Galacticos." I remember often playing FIFA at home, I even had a thick notebook where I recorded all the results of virtual games, goals scored. When going to the store or school, I would talk to myself pretending to be at a press conference of some "Real" player and so on. It's a pity that my dream of seeing Ronaldinho playing in Madrid never came true.
- This summer, Madrid's team was unusually passive in the transfer market and strengthened the team with the only A. Morata. How do you assess the team's work in this summer's transfer market?
- This summer was very calm and quiet for "Real." I am very happy that A. Morata will again wear the Madrid team jersey. Overall, I would positively evaluate this transfer window - the entire core of the team was retained, and in my subjective opinion, "Real" is unequivocally the strongest football club in the world.
- Unlike their main rivals, both "Barcelona" and "Atletico," strengthened their squad this summer by acquiring several talented newcomers. In your opinion, which of these teams improved the most?
- No doubt, the Catalans significantly strengthened their squad. Andre Gomes, Samuel Umtiti - I am very impressed with the game of these players. At least I imagine that Lucas Digne should also successfully fit into the style of play of "Barcelona."
- "Real" started the season by winning the UEFA Super Cup. What impression did the matches with "Sevilla" leave on you?
- It was certainly not good quality football for the "Real" team. I would call it pre-season football. The only really positive thing is the trophy won and once again, the incredible winning mentality demonstrated.
- Last year, the battle for the top three spots in the "La Liga" championship went on until the last round of the championship. Can we expect a similar scenario this season? Is any other Spanish team capable of challenging the top three this season and entering the medal race?
- I won't be original. I think the top three will remain the same, although it will be very interesting to follow the game of the "Sevilla" team. I think this club is capable of pleasantly surprising. Who knows, maybe even making it to the top 3.
- If you had to predict the final standings at this moment: how would you divide the places in the top four?
- For the first place, there is no need to say, everything is already clear. Second "Barcelona," third "Atletico," fourth "Sevilla."
Tautvydas Sakalauskas
