Real Madrid have had a poor start to 2021 and have seen their season turn on its head with a couple of results. The Spanish Supercup Semi-Final defeat to Athletic Bilbao followed by the exit from the Copa del Rey at the hands of Segunda Division opposition in Alcoyano, have made Real Madrid’s season go from average to poor.
To make matters worse, the Whites have dropped points in the Primera Division as well and are now placed third in the points table with just 40 points from their opening 20 fixtures. Table-toppers, Atletico de Madrid, have amassed 50 points already and have a game in hand as well. Even though the title race seems to be running away from Zidane’s side, it is too early in the season to rule out the possibility of a Real Madrid comeback.
The 4th Official lists out three problems the Whites must troubleshoot at the earliest possible in order to salvage some sort of silverware out of this season.
Real Madrid’s Season Revival depends on these factors.
Squad Morale
The absence of Sergio Ramos has certainly dented the Real Madrid season majorly. Ramos has struggled with his knee lately, and the team seems to be missing its leader. The team seems down and dusted on most occasions, something that was an unfamiliar sight from the Real Madrid of the previous year under Zinedine Zidane. Ramos’ return will lift the squad morale and drive in some sort of motivation into the side with over 18 matches left to be played in La Liga in addition to the UEFA Champions League fixtures.
Sticking To The Basics
In recent games, the Whites seem to be getting their basics wrong regarding game planning and execution. Real Madrid have struggled to unlock the opposition defence on several occasions, and the prime reason for the same could be attributed to the lack of movement down the centre. Most of the game is played in the wider areas of the pitch, which is not a direct threat for any team while defending. The Whites definitely possess the firepower to unlock the defences of any opposition with the likes of Hazard, Kroos, and Modric. It’s high time they put it to use effectively.
Increase Squad Rotation
The struggles of Real Madrid with injury this season has been highlighted on several occasions, and it’s high time the Whites put more focus on this topic. There is something that the European giants are doing wrong, and it points to the fact that Real have not rotated their squad well this season. Veteran players like Sergio Ramos or Luka Modric should have been sparingly used by Zidane keeping in mind their age. Ramos has been deployed throughout the length of the season, and he seems to be missing from the fold as we approach the business end of the season.
