MICHAEL LAUDRUP - CHAPTER SEVEN
Michael Laudrup made his debut in
the Europan Champions Clubs' Cup
with KB Copenhagen in the 1981-82
season. He represented Juventus in the
1985-86 and 1986-87 campaigns before
his three-year sequence with FC
Barcelona in the 1991-92, 1992-93 and
1993-94 season. When he takes the
field for Real Madrid it will be the
Danish international's seventh cam
paign representing four different clubs.
"Yes, I've tried every formula and I think
that this one is the best for the clubs. But
maybe I prefer the one we had two years
ago, when there were two rounds; the
group stage; and then the semi-finals when
the group winners had home advantage
against the runners-up. I'll tell you why. I
think it gave rewards to the teams which
were consistently good right through the
campaign. Last season, AC Milan played
poorly before Christmas yet scraped
through the group phase. I hope nobody
interprets this as an insult to Milan, because
there is no way I could criticise a club which
has marked an era in European Football.
But I was pleased when Ajax won the Final
because I thought that they and Paris St.
Germain had been the best performers
throughout the season. It also showed that
a young and fairly experienced side can
win the trophy.
I suppose that after so many years in the
competition, I was entitled to time off last
season. But honestly, it is good to be back
in the UEFA Champions League. I remem
ber the first time I saw the Barcelona stadi
um decorated with all the boards and star
emblems. It's your stadium but it has a diffe
rent appearance It's good because the
immediate impression is that it's dressed for
a special occasion. And it is special. Above
all, for the fans of Real Madrid. Ever since
we won the Spanish league you can feel the
excitement. I want to win it for them becau
se it is the highest you can reach in club
football. I realised this when I won it with
Barcelona in 1992.1 can remember hund
reds of moments in my career but that victo
ry at Wembley was the greatest. I want that
feeling again."
Michael Laudrup
