Xabi Alonso really needs to fix this before the season starts. There was something wrong with the strategy he employed in yesterday's match. And the team chemistry wasn't good either. Poor teamwork will only result in poor play. Even if a team is filled with many star players, without good teamwork, it won't change the situation or make the team better.
When it comes to Madrid, they will always struggle when they meet a technical midfield and an attack that presses well and creates chances easily. That is why they had so many issues when they faced Barcelona last season and why they couldn't win against Arsenal over both legs, and the same reason why they were humiliated against PSG last night.
Madrid's problem to me is not really the defence. The problem starts from the midfield to the attack The midfield doesn't know how to retain the ball and control the game. They don't have a player who can do that. That is why I laugh when I see people make fun of Pedri because it is because of players like pedri that a team can control the tempo of a game. PSG has that kind of player in Vitinha, Bayern have Kimmich. When you look at other top teams in the past, they all had that figure in midfield. Madrid had Kroos, but the mistake they made was replacing him with players who can do what he does. Both Belligham and Valvede can't do that. They can be very good players in other positions, but as controllers, they will fumble.
Then we talk about the attack. Vini and Mbappe are not players who can work hard off the ball. The first 2 goals of PSG yesterday came out of the hard work of Dembele. We've seen how hard Raphinha works off the ball for Barcelona. This is what modern football is, and if you're not ready for it, your defence and post will pay for it.
IMO, Madrid's problem is not difficult to fix as long as the coach can identify it and make plans for it and make sure the players execute it the way he wants. If they can't do that, then its going to be another bad season.
Xabi Alonso really needs to fix this before the season starts. There was something wrong with the strategy he employed in yesterday's match. And the team chemistry wasn't good either. Poor teamwork will only result in poor play. Even if a team is filled with many star players, without good teamwork, it won't change the situation or make the team better.
When it comes to Madrid, they will always struggle when they meet a technical midfield and an attack that presses well and creates chances easily. That is why they had so many issues when they faced Barcelona last season and why they couldn't win against Arsenal over both legs, and the same reason why they were humiliated against PSG last night.
Madrid's problem to me is not really the defence. The problem starts from the midfield to the attack The midfield doesn't know how to retain the ball and control the game. They don't have a player who can do that. That is why I laugh when I see people make fun of Pedri because it is because of players like pedri that a team can control the tempo of a game. PSG has that kind of player in Vitinha, Bayern have Kimmich. When you look at other top teams in the past, they all had that figure in midfield. Madrid had Kroos, but the mistake they made was replacing him with players who can do what he does. Both Belligham and Valvede can't do that. They can be very good players in other positions, but as controllers, they will fumble.
Then we talk about the attack. Vini and Mbappe are not players who can work hard off the ball. The first 2 goals of PSG yesterday came out of the hard work of Dembele. We've seen how hard Raphinha works off the ball for Barcelona. This is what modern football is, and if you're not ready for it, your defence and post will pay for it.
IMO, Madrid's problem is not difficult to fix as long as the coach can identify it and make plans for it and make sure the players execute it the way he wants. If they can't do that, then its going to be another bad season.
Real Madrid's defensive midfield and defense also deserve criticism. Opposition teams can always find gaps these days. This is also what allows PSG to penetrate Real Madrid's defense with relative ease. As for the attack, we know Real Madrid already has what they need. But again, no one has been able to pamper them with better passing. And I feel like Vini Jr. used to work harder before Mbappé arrived. I liked how he always managed to link up well with Jude Bellingham, who was sometimes used as a right winger, and even then, Bellingham was a very prolific goal-scoring player.
And there's some bad news about Jude Bellingham. He's set to miss the next few months after undergoing shoulder surgery. Hopefully, he'll recover quickly and return to the team in better form. I now understand why he didn't perform at his best in yesterday's match.
