As the name Antonio Conte was mentioned a chill ran through the Real Madrid dressing room.
Something similar to what is happening in the old Europe with the arrival of ultra-conservative parties. Even Sweden, the paradise of the welfare state, is being threatened by a party that proposes a hard hand, order and sacrifice. Double expenditure and talent is reduced by half. That idea has also trumped in Brazil with Jair Bolsonaro.
At times of crisis, recipes based on the iron fist will flourish.
For a few hours, Madrid intended to be governed by a sergeant. Jorge Valdano warned at the start of the week that the club always responds better to a diplomatic touch.
"Someone who speaks to the players, who looks into their eyes, who listens, who negotiates more than orders," he said.
This is something that Florentino Perez admits privately is his preference. He understands that a weaker figure has worked better in the dressing room.
With the softer touch of Vicente del Bosque, Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, Los Blancos won five Champions League titles. With the iron fist of Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez, the dressing room was divided and results suffered. In the middle was Julen Lopetegui.
The thunder appeared and the president was tempted to protect himself with a firm umbrella. Fortunately, he escaped in time and Conte faded before being paraded in Chamartín. The sun came out with Santiago Solari, who chooses to charm and not shout.