REAL MADRID
Record winners want crown back
As much as Los Blancos enjoyed winning the latest La Liga race – thus ending a two-year league title drought – the fact remains that Real truly define themselves by conquests in the Champions League. Winners of the competition on a record 13 occasions, Real see it as their domain, their property. Round of 16 exits in each of the past two seasons (at the hands of Ajax and Manchester City) are seen as the height of humiliation. Coach Zinedine Zidane and his players know only too well that a similar underachieving scenario will have grave consequences.
Zidane, who led Real to three straight European crowns from 2016 to 2018, no longer benefits from that invincible aura. The Manchester City defeat was the first time he had ever lost a knockout game at this level. Victorious in his 12 previous ties, Zidane had further to fall than most. He will be especially keen for redemption. And that means going all the way. On securing the 2019-20 Spanish title, he claimed that winning the domestic league was more satisfying than winning in Europe. Should we take him at his word?
As always Real will be tremendously reliant on the wise old heads in their ranks. Skipper and tower of power centre-back Sergio Ramos, who has now been at the club for a decadeand-a-half; German midfield general Toni Kroos and evergreen French striker Karim Benzema, who is only behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul on Real’s list of top scorers in European competition. After an injury-ravaged first season at the Bernabeu, a fit-again Eden Hazard could also make a world of difference in the attacking third.
What are Zidane’s strengths?
In his aura as an iconic player, his humility, calmness and ability to man-manage a squad jam-packed with stellar names. Yes, he had his problems with Gareth Bale. But on the whole, he has dealt superbly with the abundance of egos in the squad.
Is the current XI more impressive defensively than in attacking mode?
In many ways they are. On returning for a second spell as coach in March 2019, Zidane took the pragmatic decision to have all the bases covered to the rear, to be more collectively organised. The reason? Because Cristiano Ronaldo had left for Juventus and Zizou could no longer rely on his goalscoring exploits.
Is Real Madrid solely a place for ready-made superstars?
Not so much these days. Recruitmentwise, Real now target youngsters of immense potential and currently boast a marvellous stable of tomorrow’s heroes, including Brazilian forwards Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr., Uruguayan midfielder Fede Valverde, Odegaard and Ukrainian back-up keeper Andriy Lunin.