Josep Pedrerol Ignites Madridism After Barça's Scare: 'The Comeback Won't...'

One of the most tense encounters of the quarter-final return leg was the Borussia Dortmund-FC Barcelona match. Despite the significant advantage that Hansi Flick's pupils had gained from the first leg, the German squad's strategy put them in check for many minutes... coming very close to reversing that critical situation.

FC Barcelona's struggle at the Westfalenstadion to advance to the Champions League semi-finals has led many to draw parallels with another pending comeback. Because Real Madrid needs to score at least three goals to force extra time and try to eliminate an Arsenal that was truly superior in the 'first round' of the quarter-final tie.

The host of 'El Chiringuito de Jugones', in the opening of the latest program, delivered a striking monologue. "If Dortmund embarrasses Barça, if the eighth in the German League embarrasses Barça, Madrid can eliminate Arsenal... and they will," asserts Josep Pedrerol about the chances of Carlo Ancelotti's pupils.

The host himself has been giving more space and possibilities to that important comeback as the days have passed. His initial pessimism, in line with the defeatist forecasts of almost everyone in the European football elite, has turned into hopeful optimism that has led to that certainty.

He Is Sure

The quarter-final return leg between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona would serve, according to Josep Pedrerol, as an example of what Real Madrid can do. The merengue entity must overcome a three-goal deficit at Santiago Bernabéu, an unprecedented achievement in the history of the white club... as well as in the European Cup.

The players and fans are counting the hours for the match against Arsenal, a game in which Real Madrid is playing a significant part of their competitive aspirations this season. Josep Pedrerol believes, given all the previous precedents in this same Champions League, that the Madrid comeback is possible.

That word has been repeated more and more with each passing day until it has become a mantra, a collective idea that all of Madridism has embraced. The possibility of reversing the poor result obtained at the Emirates Stadium is one of the main reasons for excitement among the white fans. But the white fans are not the only ones who believe in that possibility.

Josep Pedrerol, after this clash between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona, also believes it is possible. It remains to be seen if Real Madrid's players have a similar reaction to their German counterparts and are capable of 'cornering' Mikel Arteta's pupils.