A few months ago they were at the centre of criticism, now they are Champions League semi-finalists and have a great chance of winning La Liga

The miracle of Zidane, Florentino and the 'thirty-somethings'

photo_camera Zinedine Zidane y Florentino Pérez

Real Madrid have gone from being in the eye of the storm for their poor league form, their difficulty in qualifying for the Champions League and their elimination from the Copa del Rey to being one of the most in-form teams in Europe.

The criticism in January was more than justified by the Copa del Rey elimination against Alcoyano. The team Zidane fielded should have beaten the Alicante side comfortably. But Lunin, Chust, Marcelo, Militao, Odriozola, Isco, Valverde, Vinicius, Casemiro, Mariano and Lucas Vázquez did not. To their aid came in the second half Benzema and in extra time Asensio, Kroos and Hazard. Very bad image that day. 

In La Liga, Atlético de Madrid were leading by more than ten points. Real Madrid had lost to Cádiz in October. It was considered an accident as the team had won almost every game and beat Barcelona 1-3. But then came the 4-1 defeat to Valencia, the 1-2 loss to Alavés, the draw with Elche and the 1-2 loss to Levante. The general comment was that in January the team had lost the league.  

Liverpool Real Madrid

In the Champions League it was a rollercoaster ride. It was the same thing to lose to Shakhtar 2-3 and 2-0 as it was to beat Inter 3-2 and 0-2. In the end, they finished top of the group. They faced Atalanta in the last 16, while Barcelona faced PSG, Sevilla faced Dortmund and Atlético faced Chelsea. The odds were clearly in favour of the Italian team to go through, but the white team won 0-1 and 3-1.

For the quarter-finals, things were getting very difficult: Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. At that moment, the Brazilian Vinicius played a great match, sharpened his aim, the one he had incomprehensibly missed against Alcoyano, and, with a great capacity for sacrifice, they got through the tie.

Liverpool Real Madrid

The French coach's strategy, in view of the results, was to rely solely on his starting eleven. Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Lucas Vázquez and Benzema. The other position, alternating between Valverde, Vinicius, Asensio, Hazard... Depending on injuries.

It was logical that these players would not be able to withstand so many games, but the reality was that the replacements were not up to the required level.

Isco was desperately slow; Hazard, when injuries allowed him to do so, without any overflow, all passes backwards; Mariano was incapable of generating, let alone scoring goals; Odriozola, without the necessary technical quality; Marcelo, out of form although he was getting into a rhythm; Militao, not doing badly, but not transmitting the necessary confidence; Odegaard, incomprehensibly not getting that game he plays outside of Madrid; Rodrygo and Vinicius without finishing developing the quality they are supposed to have; and Jovic, going so unnoticed that we forgot he was in the team this year.

Liverpool Real Madrid

Ramos is having knee surgery and the only positive news is that Nacho is covering the captain's place in an outstanding way.

Well, in this scenario, the president continued to trust his coach. There were no additions in the winter transfer window. The situation for COVID reasons did not make it easy and, moreover, it is not the president's policy. Moreover, some important players left the team on loan to other clubs at that time. 

The media did not stop criticising the team, even those closest to the club. The fans were resigned to what was happening and unable to express it because the pandemic prevented them from going to the stadiums. Also the results and what had been achieved in recent years invited us to be more patient than usual.

Liverpool Real Madrid

March arrived and the outlook got even blacker. Carvajal was injured for several months. Ramos, after recovering from his knee injury, is again injured due to his eagerness to break records. At the most critical moment of the year, the captain is out of the team for another month. As if that wasn't enough misfortune, another starter, Varane, tested positive for COVID. Valverde also injured.

Quarter-final against Liverpool and in between the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga. Crucial week for this season's objectives.

Real Madrid Barcelona

Elimination in the Champions League and defeat against the Culés would turn the season into a total failure. A defence of circumstances without three first-choice players. Mendy the only regular player in defence. For many, without the necessary quality and level. However, he did show commitment and strength. The starting midfield, the engine and the key to this team. In the forward positions, Benzema and two unknowns, Vinicius and Asensio.

The first instalment, the first leg against Liverpool. The whole team was outstanding. The defence, including the goalkeeper, very consistent and secure. Liverpool's forwards go virtually unnoticed. The midfield controlled the game at all times. And up front, an unleashed Vinicius constantly disrupted the English defence, scoring two goals. A great physical display from the whole team, a great match and the tie was settled.

The second, the Clásico. The madridistas outplayed the blaugranas in all aspects. They once again played a great game that translated into goals and it was only when they saw the game on track that they thought about Liverpool and relaxed. Zidane rested several players. Militao, Casemiro and Nacho play an extraordinary game in defence stopping Messi, Dembelé, Pedri and De Jong. The bad news is the injury to Lucas Vázquez who misses the rest of the season. The team takes a very important step on its way to La Liga.

Real Madrid Barcelona

The last game of this crucial week is the second leg of the Champions League against Klopp's team. The doubt is who will occupy the right-back position with the absence of Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez. The doubt of the fans and the media, because the coach seems to have it clear. He is counting on one of the players who has played the most minutes and who always performs well wherever you put him: Fede Valverde.

After a hesitant start with several chances for Liverpool, the team settled well in defence and went on the counter-attack a couple of times. Valverde put in an important physical display and Vinicius adopted a more defensive role in view of the German coach's scheme, who assigned two players to control him.

Liverpool Real Madrid

The team, after great sacrifice and thanks to Salah's lack of success, qualified for the Champions League semi-finals. On 27 April is the semi-final against Chelsea. We have to optimise our resources and it makes sense for the substitutes to do their best in La Liga.

Militao, Nacho, Vinicius, Valverde have to be an example for Isco, Marcelo, Hazard, Rodrigo and Asensio. They cannot spoil the great work of their teammates. Moreover, they must prove if they are worthy of being in this team with Zidane, Florentino and the 'thirty-somethings'.

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