Real Madrid News
Former English star tears into Real Madrid dressing room — “The players are the bosses”
Real Madrid’s elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich has sparked a wave of reflection around the club, with another trophyless season now all but confirmed and serious questions being asked about the internal workings at Valdebebas.
One of the most striking assessments has come from a man who knows the Real Madrid dressing room intimately: Steve McManaman, who spent four years at the club between 1999 and 2003, winning two Champions League titles during that period.
McManaman tears into Real Madrid
Speaking on TNT Sports (h/t Diario SPORT), McManaman pointed out the dressing room and how players run the rule over the club.
“The players are incredibly powerful. I think that is the crux of the matter. Arne Slot is the boss of Liverpool, Pep Guardiola is the boss of Manchester City… The players are the bosses of Real Madrid,” he said.
The former England international went further, suggesting that this dynamic is not new but rather a deeply ingrained feature of the club’s culture.
“Once the coach tells them to play a certain way, they go out and play in a completely different way. And that’s how it’s always been.”
For McManaman, the solution at Real Madrid has never been purely tactical. Success at the Bernabeu, he argued, demands a very specific kind of man-management.
“The coach has to be a mix between a little genius and his methods of persuasion. But you also need to be able to hug them and make them feel like all 25 are part of the team.
“The players have to enjoy the training, you can’t bore them with a lot of tactical work and video sessions. It’s a fine line between getting them happy and playing well.”
He pointed to figures like Carlo Ancelotti and Vicente del Bosque as examples of coaches who mastered that balance, before issuing a stark warning about those who have not.
“Other very loud coaches have arrived at Real Madrid and have run out the door,” he pointed out.
Real Madrid News
English legend backs Real Madrid star to become one of the all-time greats: ‘He’s got everything’
Jude Bellingham has spent the past fortnight as the most talked-about footballer in England, and the superlatives show no sign of slowing down.
A masterclass in the Nations League, a clutch of records and a second straight Player of the Year award has not gone unnoticed in English footballing media.
Now one of the English game’s most respected voices has added his name to the growing list of believers.
Lineker backs Bellingham
Asked whether Bellingham can go on to become one of the greatest players of all time, England legend Gary Lineker left no room for doubt.
“Yes, I’ve been saying it for a long time now. If he avoids serious injury or falls of the rails which he won’t I’m sure.
“He’s so good at football, he’s got everything. He’s a superstar and carries himself like a superstar,” he said (h/t Track Radio).
The verdict chimes comes in the midst of a wider chorus of acclaim in recent days. Roy Keane tipped him to become one of the greatest of all time after the Croatia rout, with Ian Wright and Micah Richards among others queuing up to praise him.
Backed by the numbers
The acclaim for Bellingham comes on the back of an extraordinary international break for Bellingham.
Against Croatia, Bellingham scored one and created three in the 7-0 win, becoming the first England player to record four goal involvements in a single game since David Platt in 1993.
He finished the window with one goal and four assists and was named UEFA’s Player of the Round.
That international excellence has carried over to the Bernabeu, where he has settled into a free number 10 role under Jose Mourinho and sits as the club’s joint-leading creator.
Bellingham was part of Real Madrid’s recent 1-0 win over Villarreal as well, and was unlucky not to register an assist when Vinicius Jr.’s goal was disallowed.
The Englishman will be looking to make an impact once again when Real Madrid take on AS Roma this Wednesday.
