Over the past couple months, we saw Real Madrid make a few signings before letting go of other players whether on loan or full transfers. We then witnessed the chaos that surrounded the Gareth Bale transfer saga before watching the preseason matches and having to see constant criticism towards the team and the manager, with some even asking for him to be sacked.
With the start of the La Liga season coming up, some of the writers from The Real Champs team decided to share their thoughts as they prepare for yet another year analyzing the team and hoping for silverware.
With the first game quickly approaching, how do you feel about Real Madrid finally starting official matches? Is it too soon or is the club ready?
Ben Sundock: I could not be more excited to see Real Madrid start their competitive campaign. Seven preseason matches was far too many and I feel the squad could not possibly need more time to prepare. The best way to get up to speed is to get La Liga underway.
Hasan Karim: I feel that this is the perfect time to assess how ready the squad is for the upcoming season. Whilst preseason is a good means of the team finding fitness and clicking, it is hard to expect players to be motivated for games which have no impact. There were signs of the ideas and tactics Zinedine Zidane is looking to implement. It is a case now of seeing whether or not the players are capable of doing what the coach has asked.
Ali Al-Hassan: If anything, it may be later than I would have liked. We as fans aren’t used to seeing this many friendly matches before the season, but Zidane did what was expected in regards to trying out different lineups and formations. He didn’t place too much importance on the final score of matches and prioritized fitness of his players as well as seeing what could or couldn’t work with the squad he has at his disposal.
Nithanth Ravindran: After all the preseason games, I am honestly scared for the season. I usually don’t take much from preseason games but this one has been unusually grim. That being said, I still have hope that the team somehow manages to turn it around. As for it being too soon or being ready, I think we can’t be any more prepared than this so yes we are as ready as we can be.
Yasheel Vyas: The team hasn’t looked at all prepared during the preseason. Zidane is still experimenting with his formations and did the same in the last game as well. Despite trying out different formations, the team hasn’t looked good defensively. This is going to be a major concern as Celta Vigo is really tough to play against. Iago Aspas will have a field day if Real Madrid plays the way they did in the last game. I still trust Zizou completely and think he is the man who can turn this around.
AJ Desai: It has been a long time coming until the season begins. I believe we are ready, but we need to be more consistent. Celta Vigo is a good team, they will look to throw Real Madrid off their game.
Ali Malik: I think seven warm-up matches is as much as could be expected. It is the right time to start the season, but being ready is a different question. Form wise we do not look ready but we also could not keep playing more warm-up games either given how long the season is. So, final answer, we’re as ready as we can be.
Looking back at our preseason matches, what were the things you liked about it? What about things you disliked?
Looking back at the preseason matches, what were the things you liked about it? What things did you dislike?
Ben Sundock: I enjoyed the link up between Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema. Despite Benz missing some easy chances, I feel like these two could be deadly when they start to click. Throw in Vinicius or James on the forward line and we could see a ton of goals. I strongly disliked the defense. Marcelo and the center backs were consistently caught out of position. Look no further than the match against Atletico to see what I mean.
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Hasan Karim: The varying formations was something that I enjoyed, particularly the 3 at the back formation. I also feel that in majority of the games, the team had moments of showing solid pressing and build-up. The one thing in some games that concerned me was the shakiness of the defence early on in some games, however, that chopped and changed throughout, as did the squad. In terms of individuals, I liked what I saw of Eden Hazard, he was beginning to show more and more confidence and individual brilliance as the games progressed, I enjoyed the few glimpses of Ferland Mendy and most certainly the solid nature of Eder Militao.
Ali Al-Hassan: Overall, I was happy with the transfers that we made but I’m genuinely worried about our midfield and feel like an addition there is necessary (which could still happen before September). Using the 3-5-2 formation really looked good as we concentrated on the attacking threats that Marcelo particularly provides rather than his lack of defending capabilities. However, we are simply not good enough when it comes to defending and that will be something Zidane has to fix as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this has been a recurring problem for a few years now and it only seems to be getting worse.
Nithanth Ravindran: Starting with the positives, I liked how the players who were terrible last season looked this time around especially Marcelo and Modric and while they still are far from their very best there are positive signs. Add to that the performances of the new players have also been encouraging such as Militao, Mendy and Kubo. Moving on to the negatives, the biggest negative for me was the lack of any definitive playing style or system. When Zizou returned, he promised changes. These changes weren’t seen during the pre-season games. The only changes were the deviation from his preferred 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 formation to 4-2-3-1 and the 3 at the back formation. They aren’t enough as seen not only from the results but also from the performances. More importantly, the team just doesn’t seem to be worried about their performances which is a bit worrying.
Aakanksha Sharma: Honestly, I am anxious at this point. I was quite pleased in the beginning of the transfer window since we did a lot of good business in a quick span. However, the preseason was quite horrendous, did nothing to inspire confidence. It’s important to note that Zidane has been back for a few months now, yet we haven’t really seen signs of a style of play / formations or tactics other than cross & pray. I think this preseason was an epic fail, despite playing quite a few matches.
Yasheel Vyas: The best part about preseason was watching the youngsters play especially Kubo and Rodrygo. Both are just too good for Castilla but won’t get to play with the first team as of now due to the lack of non EU spots. Marcelo looked himself in the preseason and Militao has been promising. The disappointing part was of course the defense and poor form of Carvajal and Nacho. Nacho has declined immensely and that is going to be a big problem going into the season with him as a fourth choice center back. The most disappointing part was Zidane not using Hazard correctly, Zidane played him mostly in that second striker role in a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2. Hazard is the type of player that thrives with the ball at his feet and Zidane should find a way to get him involved in the play as much as he can.
AJ Desai: One of things I liked is the contribution of the new signings. We did not get to see Luka Jovic that much. Eden Hazard’s goal against Roma was amazing. I would love to see Ferland Mendy take over the left back position. Few of the things that I disliked is our back line and midfield. Seems like we are getting eaten up on every counter. Hopefully, Zidane fixes that. As of right now. No cause for alarm.
Ali Malik: I loved the 4-2-3-1 attacking formation and the counter-pressing that we saw. What I didn’t like was the inconsistency of the press and that we were not always in good defensive shape. When Kroos and Marcelo played together we also found ourselves giving up chances because Marcelo would be badly positioned defensively and in the counter-press which pulled Kroos wide and that opened us up to giving away chances. I also really disliked the 3 at the back formation – it led to boring football and didn’t help the defensive problems. Our attack has looked much more fluid in the 4-2-3-1 and I’d like to continue to see that.
Zidane promised big changes and with the transfer window closing soon, we can pretty much see what our team looks like for next year. What are your thoughts on Real Madrid’s transfer dealings?
Ben Sundock: This is one of the best summer transfer windows I think I have ever seen for Los Blancos. Bringing in promising players like Rodrygo and Kubo while also addressing the need for a star player, depth striker, and youth in the defense, this could not have gone better. Keeping James Rodriguez will not be discussed a ton, but is a great, season changing move for the club.
Hasan Karim: The window has been largely solid, Eden Hazard is a star forward that we’ve needed for sometime, Luka Jovic is the future star that has the potential to be the box predator Real lost in Cristiano and I also firmly believe Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy could be two of the best in defence for sometime to come. Alongside them, the introductions and future potential of Takefusa Kubo and Rodrygo Goes is also incredibly exciting. Coupled with some of the already established stars, the window brought in a very good blend of talent to complement the already existing squad. Perhaps the main concern is the lack of depth in the defensive midfield position.
Ali Al-Hassan: June was a FUN month wasn’t it? People say that things slightly went downhill since then as Real Madrid brought in Hazard, Mendy, Militao and Jovic but then had to sell and things didn’t go as planned with other purchases. Honestly, I can say I’m happy with our transfers overall as Hazard and Jovic are vital additions to this team while Militao and Mendy will add a lot of solutions to our backline. Having said that, I found myself getting sucked into the media rumors and everything that was being said. I got a little greedy to be honest and my hopes were high on Paul Pogba but that didn’t happen unfortunately. The positive news though is that it looks like James Rodriguez is here to stay!
Nithanth Ravindran: Based on the promises Zizou made, I don’t see many changes until now at-least on the personnel front. While our transfer window has been good and can be great with the arrival of a midfielder, it remains to be seen how many of these players will be part of the main team. Overall though, quite satisfied with the window we have had except for the departure of some players like Marcos Llorente who could still have played a part in the upcoming season especially with Casemiro having no replacement in the squad.
Aakanksha Sharma: Madrid did some good business by bringing in Hazard, Jovic, Mendy, Militao in quick succession. Problem is, barring Hazard, none of them is a sure-shot starter or first-teamer. Madrid has had this issue for a while – they invested in youth and expected them to take over in due course. It worked till 2017 since the senior core of the team – Ronaldo, Ramos, Modric, Marcelo, Benzema – were at their peak and carried the team. The youngsters were mostly substitutes and brought in the fresh legs, enthusiasm & a bit of flair when needed. They were shielded from excessive pressure and hence were able to contribute to team’s success.
Yasheel Vyas: Real Madrid had an amazing transfer window in my opinion with Hazard, Mendy, Jovic and Militao all coming in a single window. This addressed the major issues the team had last season but probably a midfield signing would cap off a perfect transfer window. Losing out on Pogba was a big blow but there’s still Van de Beek and Eriksen available. There are of course the Neymar rumours and if somehow we end up getting him it would probably the best transfer window after 2009 if it already isn’t. The team still needs to sell a few players and not being able to sell Bale was a big blow. Keeping Nacho over Vallejo was a bad decision as well as former is totally out of form. The squad is not as good as what Barcelona has but still is good enough to be competing for the title and being able to win against other 17 teams comfortably.
AJ Desai: Mendy, Hazard, Jovic, Goes, and Miltao. On paper this is a very good window. Hazard was the best player in the EPL. Jovic single handily carried Eintracht Frankfurt. Mendy has quicker feet than Marcelo, and he is not afraid to get dirty. These signings have got what it takes. All of this and what lineups we will see, depends on Zidane.
Ali Malik: It’s a shame that after making so many signings it seems the ultimate theme of the summer will be defined by our inability to get Pogba. He was actually a really important signing because like Hazard he was one who would slot straight into the line-up. He was also likely to play Kroos’ position which would have given us a better solution to the lack of athleticism Kroos has and perhaps could have helped our defensive shape. The other transfers addressed concerns in the squad but they’re work in progress type signings not immediate starters (Mendy perhaps might be though). Hence, dealings wise while it was good in its own right we did not get enough to usher in big change. This is very worrying in terms of outlook for our season.
What changes do you think are absolutely necessary for the Real Madrid squad?
Ben Sundock: There needs to be more creativity in the formation and lineups Zidane rolls out. His experiment with the three defenders and two wing backs has been not only interesting but successful. Marcelo and Dani Carvajal are offensive-minded defenders, so why not let them push up field? With three defenders and Casemiro staying back, this could be hugely beneficial and gives Zidane flexibility.
Hasan Karim: I think a more dynamic player in midfield is definitely required in the Spanish capital. With Luka Modric advancing in his years, Real need somebody capable of carrying the ball in the middle of the park. Kroos has never been known for exceptional movement, neither has Casemiro. Considering the links to the likes of Paul Pogba and Donny Van De Beek, both players would have helped energise the midfield. However, with reports of James Rodriguez remaining at the club, the issue may be solved without needing to spend as the Colombia international is capable of bringing goals to a midfield that so badly lacks them.
Ali Al-Hassan: We have become predictable so it was extremely refreshing to see that Zidane has tried various formations throughout preseason. It may look like some experiments didn’t work but nothing is expected to be perfect from the first try and that’s the reason that we have preseason matches. People focused on scorelines but that is only important starting on Saturday. Having said that, I’m worried about the importance Zidane places on his “old guard” particularly Marcelo and Luka Modric. I feel that this could possibly be our downfall this season but I genuinely hope I’m wrong!
Nithanth Ravindran: The most necessary changes for the Real Madrid squad is the replacement of the old guard. While that is not going to happen in one window, it is something that has to be started in this window. The problematic part is that Zizou still seems to trust them and has been mostly been playing them instead of turning and looking to the younger players. Thankfully though, the players who need to be replaced the most have replacements in the squad except for Modric. So the biggest need for this squad at this moment is the arrival of another midfielder.
Aakanksha Sharma: Last 1.5 years have shown us that the core has aged and needs to be phased out. They can’t be relied upon to carry the team for the entire season. Ronaldo, who mostly bailed them out, is not there anymore. So they didn’t need promising youngsters this window, or even the last window. We needed first teamers, sure shot starters. Which is clearly lacking. Midfield has some glaring issues, and I am honestly surprised that Modric hasn’t moved on yet, he is clearly past his prime. Isco’s form has been extremely uneven, James is frozen out by Zidane, Bale & Mariano are hanging somewhere in the middle. As things stand, the team will struggle for service / build up and will have to start Castilla players in case of a few injuries. I also wish there was another CB, since Ramos can’t keep up with the intensity of back to back league matches anymore.
Yasheel Vyas: The squad looks almost complete apart from the midfield. The midfield lacks depth this season which used to be Madrid’s strongest unit in the past few seasons. Zidane relied on the immense squad depth to lead us to one of the best seasons in the clubs history in 2017. This time the midfield looks weak with an ageing Modric and after the sales of Ceballos, Llorente and Kovacic it lacks depth too. I think James should be kept and should be playing as first choice at right wing. The right wing spot is the weakest in Real Madrid’s current squad though we have depth in that position with Kubo, Rodrygo and Brahim but they lack experience. The experienced players like Bale and James are out of favour and Asensio injured.
AJ Desai: Midfield. It is thin at best. I am not sure how long Modric and Kroos will be able to keep it together but when it comes to giving them rest, what are our options? Zidane has to figure that out. Did not purchase a midfielder yet.
Ali Malik: A replacement for Kroos seems necessary given the defensive issues his inclusion poses for us. We also need a proper solution for the RW now that Asensio has unfortunately gotten injured and will miss the season. Fixing one of these two issues could give us a baseline for the season but I really have a hard time seeing us being successful in La Liga if both issues remain.
What are your predictions for this season?
Ben Sundock: I think top two in the league is not out of the questions. I want the club to focus on the Copa and the league since they have been so elusive in recent seasons. I don’t see this squad making it deeper than the quarterfinals of the Champions League and think the focus should be on regaining control of Spain before conquering Europe once again.
Hasan Karim: Given that Zidane has openly stated his desire to win La Liga on numerous occasions, I would expect the club to mainly focus on the domestic titles as I do not feel they’re good enough to contend on the European stage, yet.
Ali Al-Hassan: Before sharing my response, it’s worth admitting that I’m an extremely optimistic person when it comes to Real Madrid. I believe that we are worrying a little more than we should. I think the league isn’t unrealistic especially that Zidane has placed importance on it while also knowing what it takes to go through the league as a manager. He was disappointed in his previous stint for not winning it more times and he came to make amends. Also, the Copa del Rey may be a possibility too. As for the UEFA Champions League, I just don’t see it happening…
Nithanth Ravindran: Ah, my favorite question! Expectations for this season aren’t much but I am hoping for at least 1 trophy. A quarter-final exit in the champions league, semi-finals in Copa del Rey. Somehow I think we will win the League even though that seems to be the thing that is least likely to happen. Especially with Barcelona getting better. But as they say, you can never count Real Madrid out. Hala Madrid!
Aakanksha Sharma: Madrid being Madrid, they can go on to win the CL or Copa next year. But CL is definitely unlikely and I am keeping my expectations low. One thing I am certain of is that they will not win the league. They are some distance behind Barca, even without Neymar. And Atletico has done some good business as well. I genuinely feel this will be the biggest year of Zidane’s footballing career – it will show whether he was only a good manager with a great squad, or he can build a squad & be a coach as well.
Yasheel Vyas: If Neymar does not end up joining Barcelona, I see us winning La Liga while making it to the semifinals of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
AJ Desai: 2nd or 3rd in the La Liga, eliminated by the semi-final stage in the UCL and eliminated by the quarter-finals in the Copa Del Rey. The reason I say this is because we are in a transition year. We have been through worse, but right now is the time to get excited for Real Madrid. The next 2-3 years will be crucial for our team.
Ali Malik: Very hard to make predictions given we have not yet seen proper evidence of the new system Zidane wants to introduce. In the absence of that we’re just taking shots in the dark. All we have right now is that we can assess the level of individual players which looks quite low. Without a system coming in I don’t see us going far in either competitions. At present till we see system I think 3rd in La Liga, and round of 16 max quarter finals in Champions League. Semi-finals in Copa.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming campaign? Anything major that stood out for you in summer transfer window. We would love to hear your thoughts!