Javier Tebas, La Liga president
Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images For Sportel
It is no secret that Javier Tebas and Florentino Perez cannot see eye to eye, and the administrative powerhouses of Spanish football have often been involved in public disagreements.
In recent times, most of the aforementioned disagreements have come through refereeing errors – a matter Los Blancos are beginning to take very seriously.
While Tebas and Co. are critical of Real Madrid’s methods of pressurising referees via Real Madrid TV, Perez and Co. do not see it as sustainable for multiple refereeing decisions to go against them year after year.
Tebas’ explosive interview
La Liga president Javier Tebas spoke via Diario AS in a tender interview where he dived into the depths of Real Madrid’s constant complaints and labelled the club the most ‘rebellious.’
“The most rebellious team in Spain is Real Madrid because the leaders of Madrid have a way of understanding football that I do not have.
“In Europe, it is [Nasser] Al-Khelaifi,” he added.
Javier Tebas, La Liga president
Tebas hit out at Real Madrid. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for Soccerex)
Elaborating on how La Liga is far more than just the giants in the league, Tebas defended the league’s quality over the years.
“We have built an incredible football in 20 years and we have to defend it so that it does not escape us. On this train, there are locomotives, like Madrid or Barça, but we also need the wagons.”
The football calendar is slowly growing unsustainable for players, especially in the bigger clubs in La Liga, and the coach was indirectly asked about the same when the topic of the number of teams in the league was brought up.
“LaLiga has 20 teams for I don’t know how many years. The problem is that now there are more national team competitions, there are more matches of European competitions, and club world championships.
“That is congesting the calendar and we are generating a very complicated football,” he added.
Elaborating on the dangers of the current style of footballing schedules and rewards, Tebas said,
Florentino Perez, President of Real Madrid
Real Madrid and La Liga have been at a silent war for a while now. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“In Switzerland, the Young Boys, who participate in the Champions League, takes 35 million and the second, who do not play Champions League, takes between 5 and 10 million. That league is broken.
“If we continue like this, they will destroy national football and we will go to the Super League, which is what some deliberately seek.”
He then broke down Florentino Perez’s idea of a Super League and
“A ‘fast-forward’ Super League—the one Florentino wanted—has been halted, but a ‘slow-motion’ Super League is already underway. If we don’t take action, we’ll end up with a two-tier football system,” he added.
Tebas was then asked about the tickets for El Clasico and how they are priced exorbitantly, to which he said,
“The ticketing issue is a matter of the clubs, in which LaLiga cannot intervene.”
Finally, the president opened up the possibility of a change in the distribution of television rights.
“It’s a matter of law—the law was passed in May 2015 and already establishes how the distribution is handled. It was agreed that the difference between the highest-earning club and the lowest-earning club could not exceed 3.5.
“There are some who are advocating for a change to the Royal Decree so that they can earn even more. It’s an approach that will need to be considered; it’s time to review it. In England, they have more revenue from pay TV,” he added.
Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid superstar
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe was unfortunate to suffer an injury in his first match for France during the international break.
He subsequently returned to the club, where tests revealed that he had suffered a minor injury and should be back soon.
Mbappe was then pictured in France during some personal time instead of working on his recovery in Madrid, and this has caused a lot of controversy.
However, Real Madrid have dismissed suggestions of an internal problem involving Mbappe, with the club maintaining there is no unhappiness with the France forward.
According to El Larguero journalist Anton Meana, Madrid do not understand the controversy that has developed around Mbappe because he had permission from the club.
“There is no unhappiness at the club or in the dressing room with Mbappe,” Meana reported when explaining Real Madrid’s version of events.
Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler, Real Madrid players
Kylian Mbappe has dominated headlines of late. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The journalist also made clear that Madrid were aware of the situation surrounding the Frenchman.
“Mbappe had permission and they do not understand the controversy that has been generated,” he added.
Questions have been raised in the Spanish media about his priorities and relationship with Madrid, with Josep Pedrerol also claiming that the forward was losing the affection of Madridismo.
If Mbappe had permission and neither the club nor his team-mates have a problem with his actions, then suggestions of an internal conflict have no basis.
The Frenchman has enjoyed a productive start to the new campaign and is rather unfortunate to have suffered an injury.
The club surely would have given him a tailored recovery plan and permission to travel to France before having to return for training.
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid
There is no dressing room issue involving Kylian Mbappe. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
When a player of Mbappe’s stature is moving around, every small action tends to get blown out of proportion in the media.
However, there is a significant difference between media-driven criticism and an actual dressing-room problem.
It is time for Madrid to put the focus back where it belongs: on football.
Mbappe is too important to Madrid’s season for every episode surrounding him to develop into a debate about his commitment.
The scrutiny surrounding Mbappe may not disappear. His profile makes that impossible. However, his importance also cannot be overstated.
It remains to be seen how Mourinho handles Mbappe’s recovery and when he returns to action for Real Madrid.