The Real Champs
Fansided

Five Real Madrid players and the gift they would want from Santa Claus

By Sachin Bhat

MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 15: Karim Benzema (C) of Real Madrid celebrates with team mates after scoring the opening goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 15, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 15: Karim Benzema (C) of Real Madrid celebrates with team mates after scoring the opening goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 15, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

As we revel in this festive occasion of Christmas, caroling and carousing, here are some of the gifts that our Galacticos would wish from the portly Mr.White-Beard

Real Madrid’s players celebrate with the trophy after winning the FIFA Club World Cup final football match Spain’s Real Madrid vs Abu Dhabi’s Al Ain at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on December 22, 2018. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s players celebrate with the trophy after winning the FIFA Club World Cup final football match Spain’s Real Madrid vs Abu Dhabi’s Al Ain at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on December 22, 2018. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images) /

It has been a year of ridiculous crests (of winning the Champions League and the Club World Cup) and troughs (of humiliating defeats to Barcelona, CSKA, Alaves; losing club legends Ronaldo and Zidane). Yet, to quote an old cliche – all’s well that ends well. And Los Blancos ended the tumultuous year on a high in Abu Dhabi, retaining their world champions tag for a third consecutive year.

And while our beloved Galacticos are back from a long, arduous trip across the Mediterranean back home to the Christmas festivities, there are a few players in particular who’d need more than just that. These five players in particular, could make do with a few gifts from Santa:

#1 Thibaut Courtois – A good defense

22nd September 2018, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain; La Liga football, Real Madrid versus Espanyol; Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) overhands the ball out to his defense from the box (photo by Shot for Press/Action Plus via Getty Images)
22nd September 2018, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain; La Liga football, Real Madrid versus Espanyol; Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) overhands the ball out to his defense from the box (photo by Shot for Press/Action Plus via Getty Images) /

For all the fanfare (a moderate transfer money) with which he arrived to the Bernabeu, the towering Belgian’s time so far has been nothing but torrid. Not to suggest he’s been poor in his duties, but Courtois hasn’t been helped much by a frankly woeful defense.

In only 16 league games, Real Madrid have let in 19 goals – 18 of which have come with Courtois in goal. Time and time again he has been left completely vulnerable at the back and despite best efforts – jumping (high), diving (sidways), lunging (into tackles), punching (the ball away) and thwarting (shots) – couldn’t help but concede.

So the best gift he’d probably ask for this Christmas is a defense that actually defends – basically, a good defense.

Home/Editorials