Real Madrid News
Florentino Perez was angry with the performance of Real Madrid stars against Man City
Real Madrid were on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City on Wednesday night in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
It was a poor display from Carlo Ancelotti’s men at the Etihad Stadium, with Pep Guardiola’s side completely outclassing the Merengues on their way to the finals of the Champions League.
Speaking after the game, Ancelotti acknowledged that the opponents were much superior to Real Madrid on the night.
Some of the players who interacted with the media after the game also admitted that Manchester City were on a different level at the Etihad.
While it is true that the Cityzens were playing at a great level, Real Madrid did not really put up much of a fight and often looked bereft of ideas on the pitch.
Now, according to El Chiringuito’s Josep Pedrerol (h/t Madrid Xtra), Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was very angry with the way his players performed on the night at the Etihad Stadium.
It is claimed that the club supremo was so angry that he did not even speak to the players after the game was over. And it could point towards an intense summer at the Santiago Bernabeu.
There could be changes made with respect to the squad, but as things stand, it is believed that Ancelotti’s job is not under any immediate threat.
Veteran stars like Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos are all likely to continue as well, but there could be some fresh blood introduced into the roster, starting with the signing of Jude Bellingham.
Given the lack of fight and intensity shown at times on Wednesday, Perez’s anger is justified. Whether that results in any major repercussions for the manager or some of the players remains to be seen.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid resolve their pitch problems as the Bernabeu surface returns to good condition
After years of problems with the pitch, Real Madrid now believe that those issues are now a thing of the past, reports MARCA.
For several seasons, the playing surface at the Santiago Bernabeu had become one of Real Madrid’s biggest headaches. Five pitch changes in a single season, paint used to disguise its poor appearance on television and criticism from all sides.
The club had been trying to solve the problem for some time and now, they believe they have finally found an answer.
The Bernabeu begins to put its turf problems behind it
The latest operation was accelerated following the NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Commanders, forcing the club to replace the playing surface in just 72 hours to meet the deadline last season. This time, however, there was an important difference.
After establishing that the underlying structure was in good condition, Real Madrid decided to retain the existing turf panels and hybrid stitching system rather than remove everything and start again.
The new grass was installed over the existing base after being cultivated for several months. The variety selected was RyeBlue Deportivo, a high-performance mixture consisting of 50% perennial ryegrass and 50% Poa pratensis.
Real Madrid hoped the combination would provide a definitive solution. The club’s groundskeeping team has since refined the maintenance process, and the results are encouraging.
The Bernabeu is now in a condition that satisfies the club, and there are no plans to make further changes to the playing surface during the season.
It is the outcome Real Madrid have been pursuing for years, following a situation that eventually concerned the players themselves.
Major concerts remain the Bernabeu’s outstanding challenge
While the pitch problem appears to have been brought under control, the return of major concerts remains the Bernabeu’s biggest unresolved issue.
Real Madrid have spent months working to address the noise problems that forced them to suspend large-scale concerts.
The work has included soundproofing improvements and other measures designed to prevent noise from escaping the stadium. However, there is still no confirmed date for the return of major events.
Real Madrid believe the work carried out has brought the stadium closer to an optimal level of sound insulation.
Several areas have been reinforced to reduce noise escaping outside, with particular attention paid to entrances, enclosures and other points through which sound waves could travel.
The structural soundproofing work is understood to be nearing completion, with final architectural finishing work and official sound-emission tests still outstanding.
In the meantime, Real Madrid are exploring ways to make a return to large-scale events more feasible.
The aim is to make full use of the improvements already completed and establish a model that allows the club to revive an activity that was one of the major commercial attractions of the renovated stadium.
Until that becomes possible, Real Madrid continue to explore other ways of generating revenue from the Bernabeu. Corporate events, award ceremonies, conferences and private celebrations remain among the alternatives.
For Real Madrid, resolving the pitch issue is a significant step forward. Restoring large-scale entertainment to the Bernabeu remains the next major objective.
