Real Madrid dejected to third place after collapse at home
Conclusion
Real Madrid had scored at least three goals in their last three meetings with Girona but failed to reach two in today’s loss. Blame can easily be placed on goalie Thibaut Courtois, but scapegoating the keeper is not the answer here.
Solari’s men soaked up the pressure from the 60-minute onwards, with no explanation as to why. Balls flighted over top seemed failed to work plenty of times and only caused a threat once or twice.
Pulling Ceballos off and having four out and out attacker on the pitch seemed like an odd combination. It would have have been nice if it worked but sadly it didn’t not by a long shot.
Personnel and tactics aside the biggest issue were how deflated Real Madrid was after conceding the second goal. It was as if life itself seemed to exist with a poor response from the players, bar a few individuals.
In recent years we’ve seen the comradery and encouragement from the players urging one another top step it up, today that was lacking, evidently so.
This is just Solari’s third loss since taking over, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Nonetheless, Real Madrid needs to move forward and in the words of Zinedine Zidane “practice humility”.
Real Madrid now has a week to assess their loss and put the ship back on course. On Matchday 25 they will square off against Levante who currently sit in 11 place.