OPEN THREAD — It’s Been Awful: 02 May 2026

**Word From Author:**

**TOREZ:** So Juni — how’s ManagingMadrid and the season been so far?

**Juninho**: well…really — **It’s. Been. Awful.**

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IT’S BEEN AWFUL

“I hope one day these words find you.” — **[censored**]

**Writer’s Prelude.** Ayy, it’s your DJ, DJ Juni Master Roshi, coming to you live. On MMUR, ManagingMadrid underground radio. The Madridsta’s number one station, the people’s radio. We got a couple more jams for y’all, before we get off for the week. You know what I’m saying? **All my heroes, are process junkies.**

\cue the piano\

My side giving up on love **I want some more drank** Pressing lines, energize on me I have to sip slow (I had to sip slow) Left side giving up on love I want some more drank (I want some more) **Pain. High, feeling like same thing**… I had to sip slow

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Track #1: Happy Hr?

I caught you typing all your last, baby. **Prepared for the crash, baby. Passed living in the past, baby** (Passed living in the past). Stares only at your internet mask, baby. Thought we ran from that. Raw Madrid opinions that we shared, baby (**Raw feeling that we shared**). **Apathy.** I’ll be honest this DT wasn’t scheduled to be whatever it’s about to become so forgive me about that. Before I write what needs to be said or just quickly share these words to whomever will understand — **I just want to quickly admit that I feel a bit apathetic about this team**. Maybe it’s the Rodrygo injury? Maybe it’s just because sometimes it feels like watching this team feels like a train crash in slow motion — that everything could have and should’ve been avoidable? Maybe it’s because some of us overhyped what change would look like? It’s probably all of the above. But I can’t chip away from some reason this uncomfortable numbness to our results and our players. You could convince me to sell most of them and I wouldn’t really bat an eye. Although I sincerely believe the team needs to be at least for the time being built around Tchouameni, Courtois, and Kylian (simply due to his sheer inevitability as a talent), if JAS and Flo walked into my room and told me that we needed to sell all three to raise funds — I’d reply ok and who else? Idk. I’m writing this portion just to probably tell you all or maybe just explain where I some of my objectivity comes from (or maybe this is just some deep-seated plea to see if anyone else feels like me). It’s an objectivity because idk — maybe I don’t care anymore. Maybe I should’ve retired end of last summer? Idk, you don’t always have an opportune chance to walk out at your peak like Toni Kroos. But yea, if I could pinpoint how I feel as of May 2nd, 2026 — I’d say that I feel hopeless. The manager choices don’t really bring any excitement (I’m not sure if anyone disagrees). Klopp feels like a fading dream. Mourinho feels like an incoming storm but who knows maybe I’d take a bit of pleasure in the rain. The rest just feel like people who shouldn’t even be listed (besides Unai Emery). The potential signings don’t really give me much hope. The news about potential departures seems bleak. And it for once at Real Madrid doesn’t feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The stars seem truly incompatible. The stars seem to truly uncoachable. The board is directionless. I know it’ll eventually work out. It’s just a matter of when. **Winning was an intoxicating drug…maybe I’m finally sobering up.** Stars led you to my trophy stash, baby. Rare Kroos-style visionary pass, baby. Now it’s only ’bout the cash, baby. They found me in the cup, baby. **It’s profit over love, baby**. Yeah, they probably won’t do the dash, baby. Zizou where you at, baby? Drop-pin it on the map, baby. I’m itching for my scratch, baby. Might then I could relax, I never could relax, baby. I’m scared of going back, baby. Vini’s scheduled for the max, baby. **Lies tripping over facts, baby.** I’m falling off this winning drug, baby. MM — it’s profit over love, baby (It’s profit over love)

Track #2: Boy In Red

Ayy, left winger, cut inside (Come inside). I wanna play with some fire shit (Fire) And if you have the time (Have the time). Then make a CB can slide with me Maybe see you on Champion’s night (Stay the night). And I could be your fullback (Be your fullback) And if that doesn’t work (Doesn’t). Then I’ll just be 24/25 Lucas Vazquez **Trent.** An MMer named after Luffy from One Piece asked me to talk about Trent today. I really didn’t expect to write this today so let’s see where it goes. I promise to be brief. **IMO we have already seen and will continue to see Trent as being more of a crux to our team’s compatibility than a solution**. And I know some of you are going to say “Juni — you’ve been against the Trent signing for years.” **And my reply is “Yes” LMAO.** But what I mean is Trent is of course a brilliant talent. In our current set-up, **Trent is necessary going forward as he is one of our few players that can accurately play a cross against a low block or a cross field pass.** Sadly after losing Kroos, we very much lost the ability to have a player quickly and accurately switch play. Additionally, with our current midfield construction, **Trent is crucial towards just standard build up play and passages of play.** Tchouameni Fede and to a lesser degree Jude just don’t simply have the technical ability or potentially football IQ to speed up play (especially without Arda) and Trent is at times a solution to these issues with his brilliant visionary passing. Now as I develop my thesis, I firmly believe Trent will need either a more dedicated pressing system that keeps play in front of him or a Coentrao-type foil as fullback partner for the remainder of his Real Madrid career. Trent is likely more than enough against most of the teams in La Liga but I still worry about his defensive work in the Champions League. Of course this wasn’t a Champions League and I do not condone Captain Carvajal publicly mocking a player during a game, but it is a pretty big issue that Trent (our rightback) was walking during that passage of play. Yes, we’re quick to criticize Carvajal for his unacceptable actions but let’s not lose the fact that Trent shouldn’t be walking to begin with. Trent did survive against City / Bayern but imo it barely. Doku had a significant amount of 1v1 success against Trent and only really ran into issues when Fede shielded Trent’s side. The same occurred at times with Luis Diaz and Bayern. And that somewhat unconventionally brings me to my next two quick points. **Trent can survive at RB on Champions League nights if we have someone like Fede Valverde** dedicated to clean up any potential messes. But we must all ask ourselves **if that’s truly a worthwhile endeavor for Fede?** Could and should Fede be better used in a different manner? Also if we do sign a midfielder like or Stiller or (please no Enzo for a multitude of reasons), is Trent’s attacking prowess needed? I lean towards answering these questions with a No / Yes / No but am open to the debate. Let me know MM — but imo Trent someone helps relieve a symptom (our poor midfield play) but isn’t actually a long-term cure or solution. Hook: Back and forth, late Champions nights beside you I don’t know no pain, I’m still here starting for Arbeloa Back and forth, late Champions nights beside you **I don’t know no pain, I’m here kissing nirvana**

Track #3: M.O.M

Mou on a mission, but it’s taking me back and forth Mou on a mission, but it’s taking me back and forth Mou on a mission, but it’s taking me back— Now Flo the man on a mission, but it’s taking us back and forth **A Case For Mourinho.** I was supposed to do a Jose Juninho DT but I don’t have the heart to do it at the moment. It’s too melancholic for even me who does respect Jose Mourinho as a manager. Also if I accurately did my math, the next time it’s my DT week — we should have just officially hired our next manager so you’ll have to wait until then. But in the meantime since that is nearly a month away, I’ll present to you all my high-level case for why Mourinho could be positioned to be a good manager for this current Real Madrid squad. (Disclaimer: Mourinho isn’t my first choice manager for this squad. TBH if I had my pick, I’m not sure if he makes my Top 5 list.) Ok – first is just **feasibility.** Real Madrid is currently coming off a 2x trophyless season with a limited midfield, a defensive personnel who are getting injured on the daily, and with serious questions regarding the incorporation of new youth talent (Endrick / Nico Paz / potentially Victor Muñoz etc) and the compatibility of their star players (i.e., will and should Vini be renewed)? **Mourinho is likely one of the easiest big name managers to have start working immediately especially because he has a release clause** / option window to freely leave Benfica. With Jurgen Klopp, you’d still need to negotiate to some extent with Red Bull depending on his contract and again who knows if he even wants to coach again. Pochettino, Scaloni, Deschamps, Tuchel, and Nagelsmann are all coaching their NT in the WC and wouldn’t be available until like July at earliest. Additionally, managers such as Unai Emery, Cesc (which isn’t believable lol), and Seb Hoeneß, we’d also need to spend time negotiating with their clubs. No one has time to wait on what could be a defining summer for a nearly desperate board. Second — **personality.** Although I do think Mourinho will and has somewhat changed from his 2010’s self, his personality and accolades should be enough to demand respect from not only the locker room but give him the ability to manage upward. I think at Real Madrid especially with this board we often only think about the manager demanding respect from his players and not as much from the board. Mourinho should and likely will do both or at the very least he’ll complain publicly until the fans start taking sides (lol). An issue we faced with Xabi and Arbeloa is that despite all their tactics or in Arbeloa’s case friendliness, they were unable to bench star players or underperforming players. Mourinho will not have that issue. Mourinho will not take responsibility for player’s faults during some press conferences. Mourinho will not sugarcoat when a player is obviously half-assing their effort on the field. It will be known. It will be demanded. And if it’s not given, the player will likely find themselves not playing. **This has the potential to finally be a meritocracy again. There is only room for one ego .** Third — **tactics**. Tactically I think there *could* be a fit here. First, I want to say that Mourinho isn’t as traditionally park the bus as he used to be. However, if we act like he’s more counter-attack based there is a chance that this could work at least in Europe. If we really just look at our team, we’re pretty functional in transition and when we cede possession. This is mainly why imo we looked great against City and Bayern — both instances where we kind of set up like a Mourinho team. Yes, there would be issues in La Liga against the low block but maybe just maybe we can talent our way through those obstacles. And tbh most La Liga teams do try some semblance to play possession based football imo. Fourth — **win-win**. And again this is just a high level journey into my mindstate and apathy. Mourinho in my opinion is a win-win situation. He isn’t a great enough modern coach to the point where I’m worried that he’ll never come back to Real Madrid or show up at the wrong time etc., so I’m not fully sure that I really care if he gets completely frustrated and burned from this stint with us (e.g., lets say Xabi / Kompany). If Mourinho succeeds and we win trophies — yay! If Mourinho fails and destroys the entire project — that’s cool with me too. At that point especially with all the parading around recently by the media that Florentino is taking the reins, **there is no where for the board to hide.** [Bridge] Don’t just dance (Don’t just dance), go on, get loose (Go on, get loose) Go on, put 10x you had in the booth (Go on, get loose) Let’s get gone (Let’s get gone), go on, pop two (Gon’ pop two) **Wait (Wait), don’t overdo it** Baila means dance, go on, get loose Go on, put everything you had in the booth Let’s get gone, go on, pop two Wait, don’t overdo it

Outro: Supaficial

“MM — even though It’s Been Awful this season. Give me three things that you’re grateful for.” Tchouameni Plaudits. Dean Huijsen Becoming a staple. Rodrygo as a right attacking-mid. Cheers, J View Link