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A quiet transfer window for Real Madrid: Strategic or a missed opportunity?
As clubs across Europe burnt the midnight oil trying to work out transfers are paperwork, the lights in Real Madrid’s offices stayed off. Florentino Perez, too, admitted that the January transfer window was one of the quiet ones in the club’s history.
As the club see it, it is the calm before the storm planned for June. Indeed, there is a logical backing to Los Blancos‘ decision to keep a low profile. However, was it the right choice in retrospect?
The biggest factor: Mission Mbappe
Just as one saves up penny after penny patiently to purchase his dream car or home, Real Madrid have been filling their treasure in pursuit of their dream signing. Kylian Mbappe is a name that has taken the football world by storm over the past few years.
The youngster has grown exponentially season after season and has brought his name amongst the best in the business. Now, it seems like the time has arrived for him to join the club of his dreams.
Though he will probably arrive on a free transfer, Madrid are preparing for his massive wages. Moreover, it is in the capital outfit’s veins to have a miserly January window and push hard in the summer.
A missed opportunity
The club have a sizeable lead over arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga, but the job is far from done. Sevilla lingers just four points behind Ancelotti’s side. Needless to say, even a single slip-up could end up costly for the men in white.
The Champions League poses no easy path either. PSG are the team pitted against Los Blancos in the round of 16, with more formidable oppositions lined up ahead.
A couple of signings to cover the voids in the team would undoubtedly have helped the manager rotate more efficiently and maximise the team’s output. In that sense, the January window could be seen as a missed opportunity.
Clearing the deadwood
Isco, Marcelo, and Gareth Bale are in the final six months of their contracts. Renewals seem to be off the table for all three players as they are set to depart the Bernabeu in June. However, the situation could have been handled more efficiently.
A costly summer lies ahead of the club, and every dime matters at this point. Placed in such a situation, Florentino Perez could have looked to sell the three players for at least a minor fee in the winter market to profit at least marginally from their departure.
The need of the hour: Backups
When compared with other teams in La Liga, Real Madrid’s defensive record shines bright. However, that is far from reality.
Apart from David Alaba and Eder Militao, the team have no experienced campaigner to fill into the centre-back role. Makeshift rotations are not the right way forward, and an economical solution on the market could have helped.
Antonio Rudiger is said to be the candidate leading the club’s wishlist. However, his signing would command a high fee that would not be practical mid-season. A young and upcoming defender from a lesser-known team is an option the club could have considered.
The full-back positions have been very concerning for Ancelotti this season. Dani Carvajal’s poor injury record coupled with his less-than-ideal on-field performances continue to be a cause of headache.
Lucas Vazquez has filled in that role well but is far from the prime candidate in the long-term.
On the left side, age has truly caught up with Marcelo. The Brazilian is nowhere close to the player he used to be and is currently more of a liability than an asset to Ancelotti.
That leaves the manager with Ferland Mendy as the only option to play at left-back. In the event of any injury to the Frenchman, it is Nacho who makes a makeshift adjustment.
Undoubtedly, a reinforcement at left-back would have gone a long way in helping the manager with his rotation. Though it would require a sizeable investment from the club, the benefits outweigh the costs.
The same can be said about the midfield, where Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Casemiro are nearly irreplaceable. All three stars are on the wrong side of 30 and require careful monitoring to ensure longevity.
While Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga are excellent deputies, but Casemiro is still left without a backup. Bringing in someone on loan in that role could have gone a long way in maintaining a healthy squad for the second half of the season.
There is no denying that a few signings in winter could have made Real Madrid a better-oiled unit. However, the approach of saving up for the summer is a valid one too. It remains to be seen how many positions the club manage to reinforce in June.
Real Madrid made a mess of their game against Elche last night, and it is clear that the men in white have several flaws with no answers at the moment.
From being 2-0 up, the men in white bottled their lead and threw the game into jeopardy by permitting Elche to score two goals. The result, as many saw it, was set to end in a draw.
With some persistent attacks in the dying minutes, however, Real Madrid managed to build pressure on Elche and eventually scored one more goal at the death to take home the three points.
Needless to say, however, the negatives from the game far outweigh the positive news of the three points.
Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways from Elche 2-3 Real Madrid.
Another second-half collapse
After Real Madrid’s win over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, Jose Mourinho stressed the fact that Real Madrid actually played only one half and that the fatigue began showing after the break.
On the night, the opposition began to enjoy more dominance and create chances after half-time as they outran and outpressed Los Blancos to good effect.
Last night was no different, and the second half went completely awry.
The men in white entered the half-time break cruising with a 2-0 lead and significant dominance over the proceedings. They had a massive xG, with Elche barely creating any chances of note.
After the break, however, the entire dynamic of the game changed as Real Madrid took a step back and handed the impetus to the hosts. Pressing high and attacking without fear, Elche dominated Real Madrid for most of the second half and had a staggering 60% of possession.
They scored twice – in the 71st and 83rd minutes – and equalised Real Madrid on the night. Given the visitors’ shambolic display, it was deserved for Elche.
At this point, the constant second-half collapses and fatigue struggles of the team after just 45 minutes of action must worry Jose Mourinho immensely. Heading into a derby away from home, Real Madrid have to do much better.
The away curse continues
While Real Madrid’s form at home has been imperious this season, their form away from home has been equally shocking.
They began their season with a last-minute win over Espanyol, and their second league game of the season on the road came against Real Betis and ended in defeat.
Heading into their third away game last night, there was an element of worry about how they would perform, and the trend continued once more.
Real Madrid did well to take the lead on the night, but they made the second half a massive war and far more difficult than it should have been.
At this point, serious questions have to be raised about Real Madrid’s form on the road and their inability to keep games under control when playing in away stadiums.
Heading forward in the season, Los Blancos have some massive away games coming up against far more difficult opposition. The Madrid derby is up next, and the team’s form is nothing promising heading into that fixture.
Carlos Espi saves the day… again!
Real Madrid are currently on 15 points after six games in the league, but Carlos Espi has directly contributed to a massive chunk of that.
If not for the new Spanish striker’s ability to come up clutch in big moments, Real Madrid could well have been on just 11 points at this stage in the season, and the four points he has added are absolutely crucial.
Against Espanyol, it was Espi who scored a stoppage-time winner to hand Real Madrid all three points after a complicated match. Last night, he repeated the same heroics once more.
With the team staring at a draw, the new signing was at the right place at the right time to bury Kylian Mbappe’s assist in stoppage time, handing Real Madrid all three points at the death.
He may not have played a large part on the night, but his cameo was again powerful and it is clear that he elevates the team’s attack and provides new solutions in front of goal. Espi has already proven his talent, and his ability to perform under pressure is what makes him special.
