Lopetegui fighting to survive but Real Madrid's problems are deep-rooted

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Down and out: Real's players are dejected after conceding.

    Six hours and 49 minutes.

    That’s a lot of football and the time in which Real Madrid have gone without finding the back of the net.

    Marco Asensio’s 41st minute winner against Espanyol at the Bernabeu on September 22 was the last time Madridistas had something to cheer about.

    For a club built on its famous heritage and philosophy of free-flowing and attractive football, four straight goalless outings in all competitions for the first time in 33 years, which in the process have brought about three defeats, is simply not good enough.

    Saturday night’s languid showing at Alaves only served to compound the misery and pile the pressure on under-fire boss Julen Lopetegui, who must be thinking everything is against him after watching sloppy defending allow veteran Manu Garcia to net a stoppage time winner in the 1-0 loss at the Mendizorrotza Stadium.

    In the aftermath, Lopetegui attempted to shift the focus away from him and his future and underline the importance of getting back to winning ways quickly.

    While, his captain, Sergio Ramos, publicly backed the former Spain manager to remain in the hotseat.

    However, the lethargically of another energy-lacking display in the Basque country had the hallmarks of a side not busting a gut for the cause, and indeed the man calling the shots on the touchline.

    Regardless of whether or not Real’s star names enjoy playing for Lopetegui after his initial honeymoon period or not, they shouldn’t need reminding that they represent the world’s most famous club – and with that – comes a great deal of responsibility.

    The upcoming international break has arrived at an interesting juncture, giving club president Florentino Perez – a man of course known for sacking managers quickly aside from his lucky charm Zinedine Zidane – food for thought and more time to assess whether or not Lopetegui is still the right man to move forward with.

    Given Perez bent over backwards to acquire the former Real Madrid goalkeeper’s services ahead of the World Cup, he is set to be given more time to avert what has become a crisis.

    Lopetegui’s possession-focused footprint but stale forward outlook has not won over the Bernabeu crowd but plenty of mitigating factors have been out of his control and contributed heavily to four winless matches.

    Luka Modric’s slow reprisal from his heroics in Russia was perhaps coming but Real really need more from the Croatian schemer while Karim Benzema’s collapse of form has been stark, with the Frenchman having failed to find the net in his past seven matches and he was suitably replaced at half-time against Alaves.

    He is not the only one though given Asensio has registered just once this term while Gareth Bale’s early season momentum has dropped off, with a new groin injury coming to light over the weekend.

    These issues have only added to the loss of injured trio Marcelo, Isco and Dani Carvajal, and even though Toni Kroos has stayed fit, the German’s consistency and distribution has been far from his sparkling best.

    Indeed, France World Cup winner Raphael Varane has also endured a shaky start to the campaign. In midweek, he was caught napping by CSKA Moscow’s Nikola Vlasic during the Champions League defeat and was on his heels again facing Alaves – allowing Ruben Sobrino to steal a march at the back post to supply the winner for Garcia.

    The problems are all too real and concurrent but are far more deep-rooted than a barren run of results, which means, the blame has to be shared around and directed not just at the coach.

    While the lack of a genuine replacement for club legend Cristiano Ronaldo has garnered more column inches than any topic (and was probably a wise sale from Madrid given CR7 wanted to leave), the lack of investment elsewhere in forward positions and the squad in general has left the Whites looking thin and limp which is just unacceptable given their financial clout and pulling power.

    The recruitment of Thibaut Courtois was a good bit of business but was it a necessary one? Lopetegui’s juggling act between him and Keylor Navas has unsettled the backline, even experienced Ramos, while the likes of Nacho has just had to fill in and inexperienced duo Alvaro Odriozola and Sergio Reguilon have been forced to learn on the job in crucial full-back positions.

    The acquisitions of Mariano and Vinicius Junior were creditable and astute buys but both of those attackers need time to develop and aren’t able to carry this team yet, like Ronaldo did with his goals return. Therefore, recruitment and decision-making in the boardroom concerning Madrid’s direction post-Zidane and CR7 deserves fierce scrutiny.

    Ultimately, Real’s problems stretch far and wide and a quick fix is seemingly out of the equation, and potentially out of Lopetegui’s hands.

    It’s early days but a European Cup defence and La Liga title bid appears ragid.

    Things can change quickly though and let’s not forget the Whites have been slow-starters in the past, and then turned on the afterburners.

    Recommended