Xabi Alonso is gone now, so Real Madrid should be better, right? Wrong. While yes, it was Alvaro Arbeloa's first game in charge, it was, frankly, an inexcusable loss. Los Blancos have been bounced from the Copa del Rey in the Round of 16 following a 3-2 loss to Albacete, who currently sit 17th in the Segunda Division.
The club believed Alonso was the biggest issue with Real's current form and that if they got rid of him, things would improve, but that is clearly not the case. The club now need to start looking at others as the bigger issue, and that is the players.
Not every poor result is the manager's fault; this loss to Albacete shows that, and it also shows that the players need to step up and acknowledge their part in the recent shortcomings. But none of them seemingly want to do that, except one, and it would be in the best interest of all players in the squad to listen to what he has to say.
Real Madrid star gives teammates a wake-up call
Following Real Madrid's embarrassing Copa del Rey loss to Albacete, Dani Carvajal was the only player in the squad to take accountability and say what all fans have been thinking for a long time. While speaking after the match, the club captain said:
"The ones that are most responsible for this period is us the players.Dani Carvajal
Every single Real Madrid player must take a look at themselves in the mirror, for a long time."
Leave it to one of the last remaining players from the old generation to step up and hold the players accountable for their part in what has been going on at Madrid over the last few months. Clearly, the manager wasn't the biggest issue, and the players have to be the ones who should shoulder more of the blame, but this new generation of players lacks accountability, something fans have been saying for quite some time, and now Carvajal has finally spoken his truth and out loud to the rest of the squad.
One of the best examples this season is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian has been in shocking form and played a major role in Xabi Alonso's sacking, yet he still doesn't acknowledge any of this, which should be a worrying sign for the future.
This is the biggest issue lacking in Real Madrid's current squad: a leader. The squad is filled from top to bottom with individual talent, but when it comes to someone who is willing to step up and take accountability when things aren't going right, Carvajal is really the only one and this could be his last season with Los Blancos and once he's gone, there's no one, which is an ominous sign for Madrid's next generation.