Marcelo: No need to go crazy

Following a shock 2-1 defeat to newly-promoted Girona, European champions Real Madrid’s La Liga title challenge is fading fast as they trail leaders Barcelona by eight points. I do not think it’s a problem to run more, when you are in the field you always want the best for the team.

“In the Champions League, Real Madrid might still win it again, despite being underwhelming”. The north London outfit were keen on prising the former Malaga star out of the Spanish capital when he was no more than a rotation option at Real, but a deal never came to pass. Veteran striker Christian Stuani equalized with a low shot from inside the area in the 54th, and Portu netted the winner four minutes later from close range.

After all, Madrid’s embarrassment of riches were seemingly endless.

On the contrary, Real Madrid is doing well in the UCL games.

“Was Girona my worst match as manager?”

“Girona FC’s victory against one of the greatest teams in the world is an example and a benchmark for many situations”, Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who was deposed by the Spanish government as president of the regional parliament on Friday, posted on Twitter. Now he needs to get back to full fitness. “If you’d said to me three years ago the fans would leave singing after beating Real Madrid I’d have said you were crazy”.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has only scored one goal in six games and the players coming off the bench don’t have the same impact as James Rodriguez, Alvaro Morata, Danilo or Pepe, so mistakes have been made in replacing those players”. This lack of depth could come back to haunt him, particularly with Gareth Bale’s injury and Ronaldo and Benzema struggling for goals.

The Merengues Coach has not enjoyed a strong start to the season, losing two games and drawing as many in ten Liga fixtures, and having to settle for a draw with Tottenham in the last round of Champions League games. This seems to have affected their attitude this season with Los Blancos playing as if they have little else to prove.

He just didn’t feel rushing into Real Madrid’s biggest game of the season so far at Wembley and it was a sensible idea in view of the long season ahead. “We have to be more motivated, we should not give our rivals any opportunities”. Unless something changes soon, though, they could go down in history for entirely different reasons. Spanish sports paper Marca, a publication that is never knowingly understated, is already calling it a crisis.

Watching the match this past Sunday, I had no doubt that Real Madrid would win this one and add points to their La Liga ranking.

It wasn’t Zidane’s idea to sell Morata and it’s not his fault Bale is not fit.