Lluís Mascaró: Florentino Perez, Barcelona's best ever president
Florentino Perez has axed Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. His ninth victim in 12 years in charge, across two spells. They fell, in different circumstances. Del Bosque, Queiroz, Camacho, García Remón, Luxemburgo, López Caro, Pellegrini and Mourinho. The Los Blancos chief has become an authentic "devourer" of coaches. And all this to win five big titles (2 European Cups, 3 Ligas), compared to the 10 that Barcelona have won (3 UCLs, 7 Ligas). It's not strange, then, for cules to think of Florentino Perez as the best president Barcelona ever had.
Ancelotti, who has only gone a year since winning La Decima for Madrid, has been sunken in the last five months. Madrid, who won 22 games consecutively, had started to be compared in some quarters with the Barcelona of the Guardiola era. Painful now, considering Barcelona have won the league and could complete a historic treble if they win the Copa del Rey final (May 30) and Champions League final (June 6). This comparison with Barcelona hurt the coach's head.
Perez sacked Ancelotti against the desires of the fans and the dressing room. Including Madrid's grand star, Cristiano Ronaldo, who posted a picture of himself beside his boss with a message of support, on Sunday. Ugly from the president, and potentially costly to cross the Portuguese. Perez will now look for his 10th "project" (Benitez? Klopp? Emery?), without having a defined model or route marked out. How haphazard. Like in the worst times Barcelona suffered under Gaspart. Who, funnily enough, Perez said was the best president Madrid ever had. The story, fortunately, has changed.
