Editor's Blog
Much like life, the only constant in football is its unpredictability, right? After winning two UEFA Champions Leagues in a row, as well as La Liga last season, not many fans and pundits would've anticipated Real Madrid's current slump. While it's far too early to forecast a crisis, the side need a couple of fresh faces to avoid one… Don't get me wrong. Two months ago, I was one of the people praising Zinedine Zidane for his anti-Galactico like approach at Real, which before the Frenchman was unthinkable. Throughout the years, Los Blancos have built their profile by signing the biggest names in world football, and although it's a strategy that's cost many managers their jobs, it's one of the reasons for their unprecedented success! Instead of this usual transfer plan, Zidane appears to have placed his trust in the club's youth players. While the idea at such a big club is admirable, the method doesn't always work. This season alone, Zidane has given debuts to four youngsters, while both players he lured to Los Blancos at the start of the campaign, Dani Ceballos and Theo Hernandez, are 21 years old. Again, showing faith in youngsters at a club as big as Real is worthy of great praise, but it could very well be the reason for their current domestic form. Pepe, Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez, Danilo and Mariano Diaz were all let go by Zidane in the previous transfer window, and while they weren't regular features in Real's strongest XI last season, they each contributed a great amount in the manager's rotation policy. Towards the end of the previous campaign Zidane rested the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Isco in league matches in order to field his best players for the Champions League, and it paid off! For example, Morata hit the back of the net 20 times for Real in the 2016/17 season, while Rodriguez contributed to 24 strikes. Where are those goals going to come from now? Marco Asensio? Perhaps. 20-year-old Borja Mayoral? It seems unlikely. And, not even Benzema looks like he'll reach those numbers this season, which leads me to my next point. The once devastating attacking trio of Ronaldo, Benzema and Gareth Bale have contributed to just 21 goals in almost three months of football so far in this campaign. To give you a little perspective, Lionel Messi has reached the same figure for FC Barcelona… by himself. This clearly shows that Real's front three aren't as much of a threat to opposition sides as they have been before, but how could they be when they hardly play together anyway? Bale has just returned to training after more than a month on the sidelines with a calf strain – his 18th injury since joining the club in 2013. Yes, you read correctly. Eighteen injuries in just over four seasons. But it's not just the Welshman, as Benzema has already missed six games this season through injury too. Another major factor is Ronaldo's poor La Liga form. Yes, he's one of the best players to have ever played the beautiful game, but the Portuguese forward isn't getting any younger and, despite his excellent displays in the UCL for Los Blancos last season, there were already signs that he wouldn't be able to perform consistently across all platforms. Ronaldo missed a total of 15 fixtures in the last campaign for Real – some through injury and some through rest – but he was available for every single European fixture! And it was in the Champions League where he, of course, shone the most as he scored 12 goals and assisted a further six strikes in 13 games to win his side the trophy. Again, I reiterate that he hit this form because of how many times Zidane allowed him to sit out domestic games. Now, without the manager having the luxury of great squad depth, which you could say is his own fault, he might not be able to rest his biggest players as much as he did last season, and if he does, their results might not be as positive. Real have already lost twice in La Liga and drawn another two in their 11 games in the current campaign, which has left them eight points behind leaders and rivals Barca. No more slip-ups can be afforded if Real are to retain the league title… In my opinion, Zidane needs to dive into the transfer market in January in order to lure better and more experienced back-up, or perhaps even first team players, to the club. As much as I respect what the Frenchman has achieved since taking over in 2016, Real are in desperate need of fresh blood. At the moment, Bale and Benzema aren't doing enough. I have no doubt that Ronaldo will find his shooting boots eventually, but the likes of Isco, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric need new legs darting into the channels. Maybe Eden Hazard would be a great addition. But this is football, isn't it? What works one season won't necessarily work the next. Zidane's Real have undoubtedly been the best in the world for the last two or three years, but president Florentino Perez should perhaps encourage Zidane to spend money in the coming window – at least on two or three quality players, who will keep the regular starters on their toes. Los Blancos will certainly be competing for trophies again, I just can't see them being dangerous in both Europe and Spain without the back-up they had last season. And who knows, it could even cost Zidane his job. No manager is bigger than the club. Cheerio, Kurt
