And, the award for the strongest mentality of the year goes to…

It was that one particular dash across the byline that got all our hearts racing… the most unfortunate Marc Bartra was the person given the uphill task of retrieving the ball from the lightning that just passed him –even though he previously thought he had won a physical battle against the speedster, he found that he had only created more room for the Welshman to gather enough LungsPower and burst forward –in only some microseconds all he could see was the back of the No. 11, no one will fault bartra for not trying, try he did, but it was doomed from the go.
 
That dash reminded us all why Madrid splashed €100 million euros for the exquisite services of Gareth Bale, and also a timely reminder of what bumped into Maicon’s career.

In a month’s time or so he was lifting the big ears after scoring the clincher in that Madrid derby, surely, greater things to come and a fast induction into the hall of fame at any other normal club would follow suit. But what he met the following season, his heart hasn’t been able to explain to his mouth. It all started with an injury, next, a campaign to drop him in favour of Isco –who, mind you, was absolutely beautiful in an attacking sense and a defensive sense –in the media got heated up, he surely didn’t help matters with some anonymous performances and some lackadaisical attitude towards defending, nor did he ease the tension with those passes he never squared. To add insult to injury, the ultimate crybabies lost out on every major trophy… to Barcelona, and needed to point accusing fingers at someone so badly and sulk, those judgemental fingers found none other than Gareth Bale. Point they did. Point they still do. 
‘Now is a good time to take the Escape route like Fabregas did, return to my homeland and star week in week out, with a higher salary and instant star player status’ would be what should be going through his head, right? Wrong. Not Gareth Bale, the boos have become a ringtone, he’s been cursed, his car has been kicked, pundits say his name and make the highlight of their careers, his onetime idol doesn’t even like him anymore, yet he continues to echo his belief that he’s going to make it work. Say what you will, the man has something Angel Di Maria sorely lacks. And that is BALLS. A very strong mentality, He’s stood tall amidst the noise and not because of a lack of interest from elite clubs, namely Manchester United & Co, but because he is determined. 

Whether he will make it work or not is still to be seen, but, no one will ever say that the Welshman lacks a strong mentality, it is quite laudable. He manages to block out the immense pressure from fans and media alike, and believes in his cause. I wouldn’t be surprised to see such commitment push Ronaldo out of Valdebebas someday, but this is just speculation at best.

West African Mancunian