Three Letters: Jan 4, 2025

To whom It May Concern:

Juninho: If you only watch Real Madrid games for the results, this is not the daily thread for you. Feel free to jump to the comments (aka results). For everyone else, today we will have three simple letters about our match against Valencia. They won’t be perfectly written (as time is of the essence), but they will be perfect.

Welcome to El Merengue Diario — a blog where you can feel free to discuss everything related to football. Don’t be alarmed by the RMCF’s overt bias. It’s in the name!

Shout out to the Mods who do a fantastic job. Valyrian Steel, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho (“GOAT”).

Dear Carlo Ancelotti,

First I will admit that you have forgotten more football than I will ever know, so perhaps this letter is useless, to say the least. Perhaps my own shortcomings and comments of inexperience are frankly meaningless nonsense that you should not pay attention to. However, sometimes in life I find it compelling to listen to those who see situations from outside my own perspective, even if they haven’t lived the same full life. Perhaps there is some subtle beauty in a vision that is not confused by relationships, internal turbulence, or everyday skepticism. Maybe a view from outside the locker room really is what we all need from time to time.

Under that premise, my letter only hopes to shed a little light on the sometimes overwhelming darkness that has often enveloped this season. I would like to congratulate you on today’s victory. Your choice of substitutes helped us a lot to change the monotony of our game. Luka Modric, with no defensive responsibilities (and limited minutes), is still a wonderful player and his late addition was essential. Brahim’s tenacity for every 50/50 ball was crucial. Even Asencio’s brief cameo ensured we maintained the victory. So I raise my glass to you, Don Carlo.

However, I’m still a little wary of our persistent fighting early in the game. And let’s face it, Don Carlo: this is not a 2025 problem. This was a 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021 edition. It worries me because our early-game problems are still pervasive and our second-half solutions are rarely realized. become solidified habits. For example, Carlos… Ferland Mendy cannot be a starter in this team. It’s rare that I talk about effort when it comes to players, but I’m afraid there really isn’t much positive I can say about their performance. I witnessed indifferent defending and tracking, devoid of any notion of urgency, and at some point, we must admit that this is not the marauding LB that strengthened our defensive line in 2019/2020. Time and injuries have taken their toll on this player. He offers little advance and little retreat, so it may be better for us to play with Fran García or Camavinga.

In an effort to avoid past repetitions, such as a discussion about the ineffectiveness of our pressing in the first half and the need for Camavinga in our lineup, or the importance of developing more set-piece play (in addition to Fede hoofball), as well as the preparation. play (general hoofball) I’ll leave it at that.

Health,

j

Hello Judas,

I’ll be quick with this because unfortunately I don’t have time to properly honor you with praise, but let me be clear: you are the leader of this team. Although he may not have received all the awards and recognition for a phenomenal introductory season (+ national team season); although you may not be at the forefront of every final goal; although we, as a community, don’t seem to adequately value every lung-busting race or address as much as 1v1 haggling; I’m here to tell you that you are the leader of this team. You are the heart and soul of this team.l. It was you who kept us afloat at the beginning of the season, when your Madrid kit was as fresh as possible. It was you who broke Barcelona’s hopes during the Clásicos. You were the one who kept running and continues to run despite a bandaged shoulder, migraines from lack of rest, and constant changes in roles and responsibilities. It is you who keeps running and running and running and demanding that we, as a team, excel. I feel very bad that this crown has to be placed on the head of someone who is only 21 years old:

Lead this team. We will only go as far as you take us.

Health,

j

Dear Vini,

I understand. I, more than many who constantly watch and criticize every run, dribble, shot and word you say, understand it. I’m not here to tell you that you need to change your attitude because I understand how they code words like attitude for us but it calls for the same behavior passion for others. I fully recognize how they applaud Gavi. And Vini, I’m not here to tell you that the whole world is not against you because I completely understand how, on countless days and nights, you feel like all you have is yourself. As if there was no one else but us. I understand how sometimes it seems like no one is praying for you. Nobody is defending you. No one is there to offer an uplifting hand. No one seems to hear your desperate cries for help. Believe me, I understand. That is why I write to you not as an older brother but as an equal who bleeds like you. A man who constantly questions whether my own anger is justified. A man who sometimes lashes out, barks, clenches his teeth and bites because that’s how we were raised. We were raised to be wolves in a man’s world. A world that would never love us. A world that only seems to recognize power and fear.

That said, Vini, all I ask of you (and I know it’s a big ask) is that you don’t let this blinding rage consume you. And believe me, I’m only writing to you what I often try to tell myself. This is not a conference. It’s a plea to a familiar face. It is a plea for a man who has a platform and not only the talent but also the will to speak unspoken truths. truths deliberately ignored. And it’s funny how often I feel like I’m looking at a mirror…

Anyway, I say all this Vini because many times they ignore the message because of the messenger. And I wish I’d known years ago, but The messenger is always more important than the message. Unfortunately, that’s all they see. And what they see is inevitably what they hear. Nothing else matters. Everything else is noise.

I firmly believe that you are meant to do more than just kick this damn ball and perhaps that is why you will find that the standards of this letter are more than should be required of a 24 year old like you. I recognize that this letter may be a little unfair. You didn’t ask for this responsibility: it was given to you. I’m not sure that was even what you wanted. I know it’s not what I wanted hahaha. But we are already here. We are on a stage in front of a massive audience that for some reason is listening. And yes, quite a few expect us to fail. But trust me, we won’t. We cannot fail because we were raised without a Plan B option. Plan B is death. The only thing that can stop you is yourself. Your anger is your best weapon, but it is the same match that can burn everything you have built.

Either way, a suspension plus a fine is likely to follow. Don’t take this to heart, as sometimes I admit that taking a step back is really refreshing. It allows you to navigate back to a safe space or at least the safest space we will ever know.

Vini: I’m praying for you and maybe you’ll find some comfort if someone finally tells you “is us against the world.”

Sincerely,

juninho

Honesty for the Lil Homie

“In one of these lives, I’m going to do things right. With the mistakes I’ve made, that’s when I come together. With the Father, the Son, until then, I fight. It rains on me, blame me. I felt guilty, I was hurt, I was ashamed. I received six comments directed at me. Made every feature film, DT, what is fame to me? MM a game for me, where’s the bedroom? Sleep, I’ve never had adventures with that. What’s fair when hearts and words don’t come? What’s fair when being funny you don’t take it back? It’s rare that someone gives you back your dreams. I worry too much, I want to share too much, too much in my head. I also switch off, I’m not there too much. I am a complex soul, they layered me. Then I collapsed, and the dust of morality, I lack confidence. This time I trust myself. Please everyone else except myself. Everything else fails, I was myself. Overcome fear, overcoming myself. This year, you better do it yourself. Masks for babies, mask in an opp. Wear masks in neighborhood stores where you shop. But a mask won’t hide who you are on the inside. Look around you, reality is carved in lies. Cleanse my ego, dodge my pride. Look at me in the mirror.”

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“If my words had form… They would not reach you when you are in the dark.”