AuthorJeffEyesRimmer For most clubs and fans being third in their league and on course to qualify from their Champions’ League group would make for pretty good reading at this stage of the season. Not so for Real Madrid who are now officially going through a crisis. That seems like hyperbole but Real Madrid always do everything bigger than every other club in the world and what many would call a minor blip in form at other clubs is a crisis in the Spanish capitol. A loss this morning against Tottenham in the Champions League 3-1 has left them in second and three points behind Spurs. The last time Real Madrid lost a group game in the Champions League was in October 2012 and they've only failed to score once in the last 53 group matches. Thankfully for Los Blancos they kept that record intact this evening with a scrappy goal from who else but Ronaldo. Goals from Dele Alli and Christian Erikson ensured an unhappy away trip for Real and I would expect Zidane to be studying this game a lot over the next few days. Real were simply brushed aside and the manner of the defeat will not sit well with Madrid fans.
The 2-1 defeat this week against Girona has also left Real Madrid eight points behind their great rivals Barcelona and four behind surprise early pace setters Valencia. Real Madrid has never won the league after being eight points behind the Catalan giants. Goals from Cristhian Stuani and Portu led Girona to a famous 2-1 victory in their first-ever meeting with Madrid. A Guardiola still haunts them, Peps brother Pere is the manager of Girona and they are owned by the Man City group (which you can read about here in our previous Man City article). This comes after back-to-back draws against Valencia and Levante, followed by defeat to Betis and a 1-1 tie with Tottenham in the reverse fixture in Madrid. It was an amazing season last year winning the La Liga title and Champions League, retaining their European crown, players winning many personal accolades and Zidane winning the coach of the year award, the Frenchman in now facing his first crisis at the Bernabeu. The key issue that has been raised in all the recent games have been the defence. Put simply it’s been all over the place. Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has been a nervy presence; Nacho and Sergio Ramos have not looked comfortable on the ball and also look nervy without Raphael Varane on the pitch. In recent games they have left far too much space in behind the back line and this was so ruthlessly exposed against Spurs this evening in the Champions League. Time and again Trippier was able to get behind far too often and Dele Alli allowed far too much space to make his darting runs. Also a worry was Ramos seemed to not know how to deal with the physicality of Harry Kane. It’s not just the defence though; they have lacked creativity going forward as well (not something I thought I would ever say for a Zidane managed side). Isco at times can be selfish and makes poor decisions and Benzema has only one goal in eight appearances. That just isn’t good enough for a Real Madrid striker. Bale has been missing too often through injury as well. Then there is Ronaldo, who has just one goal in the league so far this term from 40 shots. That’s the worst striker conversion rate of any top team striker in Europe at the moment – only 2.5%! He has looked out of sorts over the past few weeks and maybe the suspensions have played a part. Having won seven trophies in his first two seasons at Real Zidane for the first time has to deal with a major dip in form to his key players. After winning the coach of the year award Zidane said “But I don't think I'm the best in the world. I'm lucky to be at the best club in the world with the best players. I'm being honest”. If I am being honest, I would probably agree with him, he is probably not the best coach in the world and he does have amazing players. However, he is coach of Real Madrid and has to somehow lift his team to meet the expectations placed on Madrid and now on Zidane the coach. I think it’s safe to say that finding in-game tactical solutions to Reals problems is not one of Zidane’s strengthens, however, he can work on the training ground to change the situation and maybe a change in formation is required. Additionally, it appears they lack a bit of leadership in the squad (surprisingly). Experienced senior international back up players like Alvaro Morata (to Chelsea), James Rodriguez (to Bayern, on loan) and Pepe (free transfer) were allowed to leave. While the replacements of Borja Mayoral, Dani Ceballos, Marcos Llorente and Achraf Hakimi are all talented youngsters they lack that big game experience and it appears that Real lack the squad depth now to really compete on all these competition fronts. After the amazing season last year it was always going to be difficult to replicate that kind of form, compliancy can set in after all. However, the lack of energy and drive in their play is a concern and one of the things Zidane also has to change. As ever Real Madrid always do things bigger but there is reason not to throw the baby out the bath water just yet (i.e sack Zidane). Real finished behind Borussia Dortmund in their group stage last season yet smashed their way through to win back to back Champions Leagues. They are still third in the League and indifferent form from Madrid through the autumn months is nothing new. In actual fact there is little difference in the level of Real’s performances from this time last season. Additionally Real do like to break records (back to back UCLs anyone?). To haul eight points back on Barcelona, even at this stage of the season, is a big ask, but Real have quality throughout their side. Form is temporary but class is permanent, Real will go through purple patches this season where they will look like the team that swept all before them last year and so I expect them to pick up their form, especially in the business end of the season. That being said, football is crazy at the moment, so I won’t be surprised see Sam Allardyce’s name being thrown into the ring to manage Real Madrid when Zidane is suddenly sacked this week. |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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