Following the international break, Real Madrid just barely squeaked by last-place Huesca and will face Valencia tonight. With no trophies to play for, manager Zinedine Zidane is having a tough time motivating his players.
“At a team like Madrid, when you know you will not win a trophy, it is difficult, in moments during games,” Zizou told the press following his side’s 3-2 on Sunday. After falling behind in the first three minutes and conceding a bad goal in the second half, it was clear that players were not totally invested in the outcome of the match.
He went on the say, “That is normal. But we are all pros here and will try and finish the season as well as possible – motivation is intrinsic and each player has their own.”
It has been a season to forget for the 13-time Champions League winners who will walk away from this campaign having won just one – the FIFA Club World Cup – out of a possible five trophies.
These Real Madrid players should not be feeling a lack of motivation after the shambolic season they’ve had because it is their fault the there is now nothing to play for. Yes, the two managers that filled in during Zidane’s nine-month hiatus were not very good, but this team has too much quality to win only one title in a season.
Players should feel the weight of the fans bearing down on them after losing the most games in La Liga in over a decade and falling out of the UCL in the round of 16 to an inexperienced Ajax side.
Several players, like Marcelo, Gareth Bale, and Raphael Varane are rumored to be leaving the club and that could open up spots for fringe players like Brahim Diaz, Dani Ceballos, and even Marcos Llorente if he can keep up his recent run of form.
I have unwavering faith in Zizou’s ability to coach up his players and make the right lineup decisions match after match. If anyone can speak these players and get them motivated, it’s him.
Los Blancos should be motivated to at least beat out cross-city rivals Atletico for second place in the league table. With a win against Valencia tonight, Real would be just two points back.
Only nine matches remain. It is time to finish strongly regardless of if there is anything to play for or not.