How can Julen Lopetegui solve Real Madrid’s problems?
By Ryan Plant
Real Madrid suffered a 1-0 defeat away to CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, leaving Julen Lopetegui’s side winless in three games after a humbling 3-0 loss to Sevilla and a scoreless draw against Atlético Madrid. The performances have not been up to standard, and the pressure is on the Spaniard – what can he do to turn things around?
The fundamental problem is this: not enough goals are being scored, and too many are being conceded. It sounds basic, and like something a junior school coach would tell his youngsters, but the statistics do not lie.
Lopetegui’s team selections have not been right, his substitutions have made little impact and some of Los Blancos’ stars are misfiring after a great start to the season.
With an average of just 1.7 goals per game, this current crop has the lowest goalscoring average of any Real team in the last decade. Karim Benzema and co. scored 10 times in their first three La Liga fixtures, but have gone 319 minutes without finding the net since.
But, it is too simple and indolent to claim that the problems would have been avoided if a Gálactico was brought in to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.
In 2008/09, before the Portuguese arrived from Manchester United, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium’s faithful witnessed exactly two goals per game on average.
Perhaps Florentino Pérez could have, and maybe should have, invested in a Neymar-shaped superstar, but Lopetegui is not short of options in attack, even without injured Gareth Bale – Benzema’s early-season form is proof of that.
However, the Frenchman is tired – he has managed no goals or assists and only one shot on target in his last six appearances, after two consecutive braces against Girona and Leganes.
Mariano Díaz, though, has barely been afforded any minutes since his return to the Spanish capital from Lyon; he must be trusted in the attack.
He is a capable goalscorer, shown by his 18 Ligue 1 goals last season, and is fit and ready to start; he has only played short spells coming off the bench so far.
Lucas Vázquez is also struggling for minutes this campaign. Like Mariano, his qualities mean that he is not a typical impact substitute. They are not particularly fast and direct, but they are effective, so they must be used in ways that facilitate them and give Benzema a rest at the same time.
One thing Lopetegui has learned is that Casemiro is indispensable without a like-for-like replacement at the club. His side looked lost without him in the first half against Athletic Bilbao two weeks ago, but he played his part after coming on as Isco headed in a second-half equalizer to cancel out Iker Muniain’s opener.
The Brazilian pointed out that Los Blancos have been struggling with concentration in the early stages of matches, after the 3-0 loss to Sevilla – this rang true when Toni Kroos’ slack pass gifted Nikola Vlašić CSKA’s winning goal after only two minutes.
Next. Checking in on the Real Madrid Castilla team. dark
Real has started games poorly – they have conceded eight first-half goals, and only one in the second (excluding the extra-time defeat to Atlético in the UEFA Super Cup final). Again, this comes down to low fitness and poor leadership, which Lopetegui should be able to avoid with such an experienced side, even without Ronaldo.
It is a breakthrough season for previous rotation players, like Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos. If they want to prove themselves as the heir to the Portuguese star’s throne, they must contribute their share of goals and assists whilst showing experience beyond their years, like the five-time Balon d’Or winner did when he arrived in 2009 before Raúl left a year later.
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Deportivo Alavés, Lopetegui has lots of questions to ponder and must come up with answers, and fast, to capitalize on Barcelona and Atlético’s shaky starts to the La Liga campaign.