10
Thursday, August 4, 2016
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS
Real drops Chelsea at Big House
By ORION SANG
Summer Managing Sports Editor
There were questions about
whether this year’s International
Champions Cup match between
Chelsea
and
Real
Madrid
at
Michigan
Stadium
would
live
up to the expectations placed
upon it after the 2014 contest
between Manchester United and
Real — a game that set the U.S.
soccer attendance record with a
reported crowd of 109,318 people
and featured appearances from
Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and
Wayne Rooney.
Saturday’s game, in contrast,
had less star power on both
sides. For Real, Ronaldo, Sergio
Ramos, Karim Benzema, James
Rodriguez and Luka Modric all sat
out, leaving Marcelo as the most
recognizable player in the lineup.
Meanwhile, Cesc Febregas and
Diego Costa were out for Chelsea,
while Thibault Courtois and Eden
Hazard came in as substitutes long
after the game had already been
decided.
There was also the threat of bad
weather looming over Saturday’s
contest — Ann Arbor was deluged
with rain for most of the morning,
with thunderstorms forecasted for
the afternoon.
But when 3 p.m. rolled around,
the rain had stopped and Michigan
Stadium was filled to the brink
with fans eagerly supporting their
teams, regardless of whether the
superstars were on the pitch or not.
The 2016 ICC contest drew 105,826
people, good for second on the all-
time U.S. attendance record list.
And in the end, even while
missing most of its regular lineup,
Real Madrid emerged with a 3-2
victory over Chelsea, thanks to the
efforts of Marcelo.
The left back opened up the
scoring in the 19th minute with
a strike from just outside the
box, curling the ball past Chelsea
goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Marcelo struck again just seven
minutes later, when he made
a run down the left side of the
pitch, squeezed past two Chelsea
defenders and put the ball into the
short side of the goal, a display of
skill that drew roars of applause
from the crowd.
The left back was the catalyst
once again for his team’s third
goal. Playing give-and-go with his
teammate, Marcelo made another
run before leaving the ball for his
teammate Mariano Diaz — who
promptly unleashed a strike from
ten yards outside the box into the
net.
“Maybe physically, (Marcelo)
wasn’t as good as the rest, but in
the field he’s been the best,” said
Real Madrid manager Zinedine
Zidane after the game. “It’s been
a joy to watch him play. Since
Montreal, it’s been spectacular to
see him. He’s an important player,
and as you can see he’s the captain.
It’s the captain’s job to give an
example. Overall, I’m happy with
his match, and ultimately, I think
that’s the idea: to get our rhythm
back.”
After its listless first half
performance, Chelsea outscored
Real 2-0 in the second half. Star
forward Hazard entered the game
in the 67th minute and made his
presence known, scoring two goals
in the 80th and 90th minutes,
respectively.
But for the Blues, it was too
little, too late, and Real captured
a victory in its second game at
Michigan Stadium after a 3-1 loss
to Manchester United in 2014.
A day after saying he wanted to
see a better performance from his
team, it appeared Zidane got his
wish.
“Ultimately, what we were
looking for was to start strong,”
Zidane said after the game.
“Overall, I’m satisfied with how
the team played. We’re in the
preseason, but we’re looking to see
something more from the team,
and I’m happy with what I saw.
“The
team
is
doing
well.
We’ve seen the team get better.
Obviously, we’re ten days from the
Super Cup, but I think what we’ve
seen is sufficient to know that we’ll
be ready.
SINDUJA KILARU/Daily
Real Madrid wing back Marcelo won “Man of the Match” for his two-goal, one-assist performance.
Nike rally celebrates
new Michigan apparel
By ETHAN WOLFE
Summer Managing Sports Editor
If
you
asked
“Fab
Five”
member
Jimmy
King
about
Sunday night’s Nike Welcome
Rally in Ann Arbor, he would say
the city was partying like it was
1989 — the last time the Michigan
basketball team won a national
championship.
As Michigan’s contract with
Adidas expired and the Nike
and Jordan Brand era began,
hundreds of people filled the
street in front of The M Den on
State
Street
to
celebrate
the
new-look
Wolverines
—
with some eager
fans showing up
as early as 8:20
a.m.
Both current
and
former
Wolverines
alike
attended
and spoke at the
Welcome Rally, including King,
former
Wolverine
linebacker
Lamarr Woodley and former
Heisman
winner
Desmond
Howard, all of whom were
dubbed as “special guests.” Other
speakers
included
members
of the Michigan football such
as head coach Jim Harbaugh,
De’Veon Smith and Rashan Gary,
and players from the basketball
team like Derrick Walton Jr.
“I’m pretty sure Jordan’s gonna
treat us right,” Walton said. “I like
Jordan as a brand and it’s good
for our school and will generate
some
more
excitement.
It
shows
the
power
of
the
Block M.
“There’s a lot
of
excitement
around here and
I’m just happy to
be a part of it.”
Much
of
the
hype
surrounding
the
Michigan
football approaching the 2016
season was made very apparent,
especially when Harbaugh took
the stage, as definitive talk about
winning a national championship
came to light.
“I have lived 52 years, a lot
of those years in Ann Arbor,
and I have never seen anything
like this,” Harbaugh said to the
crowd. “This is what Ann Arbor
will look like after we win a
championship.”
Similar
sentiments
were
shared by King, who also added:
“We look good. We feel good. We
play good.”
Michigan
Athletic
Director
Warde
Manuel
was
also
in
attendance at the Welcome Rally.
The event had been a long time
coming for Manuel, who signed
the deal with Nike — then the
largest school
apparel deal in
the country —
just three days
into his tenure
at Michigan.
“It’s
really
special to see
all
the
fans
here excited to
take the next
step in what
we’re doing. I
didn’t know what to expect (from
the rally), but for Michigan, this
is the way we do things.”
Aside from the high-caliber
speakers, other aspects of the
festivities included performances
from the Michigan Marching
Band and cheer team, a video
introducing the transition to the
crowd and free food for those
patiently waiting for the store to
open.
For the apparel itself, the
power of the Nike “swoosh” made
its presence known. The clothing
line included a number of similar
styles
seen
in the Adidas
clothing,
but with the
different logo.
The
notable
variations were
seen
in
the
shoes,
which
brandished
the
famous
“Jumpman”
logo, and a long-sleeve shirt
designed by Harbaugh featuring
the “Jumpman” logo and Block
M.
And when the clock struck
midnight and the doors of The M
Den opened, it was finally official:
Nike was back in Ann Arbor.
“This is what Ann
Arbor will look
like after we win a
championship.”
“It’s special to
see the fans here
excited to take the
next step.”