Real Madrid fans are the most demanding fans in world football, but what they really want to see is the players giving everything they’ve got. They tend to separate losing and losing with shame, and the latter is what we witnessed in El Clasico.
No matter the form, one doesn’t expect Real Madrid to be outplayed, dominated, and as reactionary as it sounds, embarrassed. It was a tactical failure, blended with complacency. A defeat of this fashion at the Bernabeu, to a rebuilding Barcelona squad, is humiliating, to say the least, and reflects the extent to which the team relies on Karim Benzema in the final third.
The game stirred up perplexing questions in everyone’s head. Is Real Madrid’s comfortable lead at the top of the LaLiga rankings owed to Xavi’s late arrival at Barcelona? Is winning the Champions League this season a pipe dream? Is Real Madrid still not ready to compete with the European powerhouses? I bet we’ve all asked similar questions multiple times over the years.
We however, have been proven wrong every single time. There’s no doubt that there are certain positions that need an upgrade, but one simply can’t rule this club out, especially in the Champions League. I have seen some fans rule them out even before the Chelsea game.
Here are the three reasons why Chelsea can’t underestimate Real Madrid regardless of the El Clasico disaster.
Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy will be back
Ever since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema has been the sole source of Real Madrid’s output. Vinicius has stepped up this season and helped him carry the load, but there is only so much he can do without Benzema’s support.
The fact that Carlo Ancelotti resorted to an entirely different approach to accommodate Benzema’s absence tells you how big a role Benzema plays in this squad. A number 9 that can score and facilitate can make or break games like these.
Ferland Mendy isn’t talked about enough, but he packs the left side of the pitch very efficiently. Mendy, along with Vinicius’ defensive support will be key against Chelsea. Dembele running circles around Nacho just asserts Mendy’s importance in the back four. The right side of the pitch will be vulnerable till Madrid buys a new right-back, but the fans do not need to worry about the left-back position, at least the defensive part of it.
Benzema and Mendy returning to the squad will put Real Madrid back in the driver’s seat.