Real Madrid Question Corner #7: The Solari debate

We’re here for another edition of Question Corner! You ask the questions and we do our best to provide the answers on all things Real Madrid! A big thank you to those sent their questions in via our Twitter! This week we tackle pressing, Ramos and Solari’s future.

A pressing matter:

Real Madrid certainly struggled with the press of Girona in the 2-1 loss at home. However, it was not the most surprising of results. Madrid have struggled throughout the season with high-pressing sides. Although, you could also argue that this has been the case beyond this season.

The reason behind that though can be a mixture of different things. For example, Casemiro has long been critiqued for his sometimes strange reaction when put under pressure, the same goes for a few members of the team. However, I think, at least against Girona specifically, that the issue was more to do with the coach and his decisions. Despite Ceballos having a poor game, removing him for Mariano late on was a strange decision as a depleted an already struggling midfield which left the remaining midfielders overrun by Girona. This falls hand-in-hand with my other point, the team simply failed to match the tweaks made by Girona in their intensity. The Girona coach, Eusebio noted how he attacked the open spaces left by Madrid’s full-backs who were doubled up on. You could even argue that the team simply were incapable of taking their chances and following up on their bright start in the first half – how many times have we heard that over the years?