The atmosphere around Real Madrid had changed. There was no denying it anymore. The 6–1 El Clásico loss to Barcelona had been a brutal blow, but what hurt more was how the season seemed to slip through their fingers, one match at a time. Barcelona was running away with the title, leaving Real Madrid clinging to a distant hope. They were 12 points behind with only three games left in the season. The dream was over.
For most players, it would have been the point where they gave up, where their heads dropped, and they started thinking about their summer vacation. But not Maradona Pérez. No, for him, the game was always personal, and this was far from over. There was pride, his pride, and that of the team. But more than that—he had a score to settle with Schuster.
The Locker Room
The loss to Barcelona had left its mark. The locker room felt… different. It wasn't the same as it used to be, before Maradona had arrived. Back then, everyone played their role. But now, every look was charged with unspoken words. Players kept their distance from the coach, more out of resignation than respect. Schuster was a ghost in their eyes—a man who had failed to rise to the occasion. But Maradona? He had only risen higher. Each time he stepped onto that pitch, it was like watching an artist paint a masterpiece. It was only a matter of time before it was his team.
Maradona had known it. He could feel it in the air, the murmurs of admiration from his teammates. Ramos had been the first to recognize his dominance, the first to openly show his respect. Casillas followed, of course—he'd always been the protector, the one who had the pulse of the squad. And Marcelo? Well, Marcelo saw what everyone else was starting to see. This wasn't just a kid. This was Real Madrid's future.
Yet, Schuster? Schuster couldn't see it. The stubbornness had started to turn into something uglier—a sense of pride that had blinded him to the reality unfolding in front of him. The team was turning to Maradona, and Schuster refused to adapt. That stubbornness would be his downfall.
The Tension With Schuster
Every training session with Schuster was like walking through a minefield. Maradona wasn't a puppet, and Schuster wasn't the puppet master. There was no respect between them anymore, not the way it used to be. Schuster barked instructions, but Maradona often ignored him. It wasn't because he thought he knew better—it was because he knew better.
One day, after a particularly intense drill, Schuster snapped.
"Maradona, you need to play the way I've been teaching you!" Schuster's voice was sharp, filled with frustration. "You're not above the system!"
Maradona turned to face him. The arrogance in his gaze was unmistakable. "I don't need your system to be great, coach. I'm already great."
Schuster's face flushed with anger. "Don't talk to me like that! You think you're better than the system I've built?"
"I don't think it," Maradona shot back, his voice cold. "I am better. And this team's going to follow me, whether you like it or not."
It wasn't a threat. It was a statement of fact.
Schuster clenched his fists but knew better than to argue further. He could see it in the eyes of the other players, the ones who had followed Maradona's lead. The shift had already happened, and he was too slow to catch up.
Maradona's Rise Amidst the Chaos
With the league title slipping further away, the only thing left for Maradona to do was prove that Real Madrid could still shine—even without the trophy. The spotlight had always been on him, but now more than ever, he needed to dominate. It was about pride, and it was about showing that even in a lost season, he was still the best player on the pitch.
Schuster's grip on the squad loosened with each passing game, but Maradona's hold over the team only tightened. In the locker room, in training, on the pitch—he was everywhere. He was their leader now, even if Schuster couldn't see it.
As the last few games of the season approached, the tension between Maradona and Schuster reached a boiling point. The media was already predicting that Schuster would be the first to go, and it was clear to anyone who was paying attention that Maradona was no longer a player under his command. He was a force beyond his control.
The Final Three Matches
The final three matches were more about what wasn't happening than what was. The title was lost—Maradona knew that, but that didn't mean he would just let the season fizzle out. He was determined to end the campaign on his terms.
In every game, his performance was undeniable. Goals, assists, magic. Every time he touched the ball, it felt like something special might happen. His movements were mesmerizing, and the fans had no choice but to watch in awe. Even in a season where the team's failure was evident, Maradona's brilliance was a beacon of light. And he knew it. He wasn't just playing for himself anymore. He was playing for the future—for his place in Real Madrid's history.
Schuster's Last Attempt
Then came the match against Valencia. The air was thick with uncertainty. Schuster had been backed into a corner. His job was on the line. If he lost here, it might be the end of him at Real Madrid. He needed a win—and he needed it badly.
"Maradona," Schuster called out after a brutal training session, his tone tight with tension, "I need you to stick to the plan. You can't just go off on your own. The team needs structure."
Maradona looked at him, the same cold intensity in his eyes. "Structure?" he repeated, almost mocking the word. "I don't need a structure. I need you to trust me."
Schuster was losing control of the situation, but he had to hold on. "This is about more than just you, Maradona. It's about the team."
"I know," Maradona said, his voice softer now, but there was an edge to it. "But the team needs me, and you need to figure that out. Fast."
It was a battle of egos, and in the end, Schuster couldn't win. Maradona had already become the team's captain in everything but name.
The End of Schuster's Era
The final stretch of the season was marked by the inevitable collapse of Schuster's reign. There was no hiding it anymore—everyone knew what was coming. The media was already calling for his firing. The fans were divided, but those who still believed in Real Madrid's future had begun to look at Maradona as the one to lead them.
As the season wound down, Schuster's fate was sealed. Maradona had already won. He had carried the team, even in a season marked by failure. And as the final whistle blew on the last match of the campaign, one thing was clear: the future of Real Madrid was in Maradona Pérez's hands.
The president's office would soon be flooded with calls. The board was already discussing Schuster's future. Everyone knew the story had changed. Real Madrid had a new leader.
And that leader had no intentions of backing down.