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In one corner, Dani Olmo. In the other, Juan Mata. On the screen and on the pitch. Tomorrow night, Manchester United meet RB Leipzig in the Champions League; now, two of their players meet over Zoom, aware that unless something strange happens in Paris, come 10 oclock Tuesday only one will remain in the competition, their fate in each others hands. Its a pity we cant both go through, Olmo says. Its difficult: we didnt want to reach the last game in this situation, Mata says. The two Spaniards have been talking about playing football for fun, connecting with the child inside, but this is a bit serious for that. In those final minutes before the match, its impossible to avoid the emotion, the nerves, those feelings, the thought: We have to win, Mata says. Well, draw in this case. Truth is, there are elements of professional football that make it harder to enjoy: the demands to get a result, to play well or lose your place, to perform in front of 80,000, not with your friends in front of no one. And when you win, because thats your duty, its more relief than happiness. Why? Because in three days you have another game you have to win. Its so constant that its hard to savour victory. But however high the demands its important to think: yes, theres an objective, a plan, responsibility, but Im going to enjoy this, on this perfect pitch, with this ball. And the more you remember that, the better youll play. So, Dani, please keep that in mind. I will, Olmo says, and my best games are always the ones where I have enjoyed it. Mata is 32, Olmo 10 years his junior, and there are certain parallels in their careers: in positions, styles, and the paths they took, leaving home young, and having the nerve to depart big clubs in search of opportunities Mata forced his way out of Real Madrids youth system, Olmo left Barcelona for Croatia even in the role of their footballing |