Real Madrid News
Former Spanish footballer opines on Real Madrid’s loss to Atletico Madrid – “Different men but same problem”
Real Madrid’s recent 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid had a lot of factors attached to it, including some controversial calls from the referee and the VAR team.
But it doesn’t take away anything from the fact that it was yet another disappointing performance from Jose Mourinho’s men, who have now fallen to fourth place in the league table.
Real Madrid have lacked character in crunch matches and it appears the problems run much deeper for the club, at least that is what former player Alvaro Benito seems to think.
What Benito said about Real Madrid
Speaking to Cadena SER, Benito insisted the issues at Real Madrid go far beyond the controversy of the derby, arguing they are deep-rooted and long-standing.
“Here I think the reflection is much deeper. If you have been two years and a peak seeing practically the same thing on the grass, the same problems and the nature of the problems is the same.
“No change has been glimpsed with any of the coaches being of different nature each, then the problem is much deeper I say, right?” he said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
Benito raised an important point about how Real Madrid continue to struggle despite going through a massive overhaul this summer.
“They’re different men, but the same. You can win. The other day in Elche you win, but the feeling that the collective gives you is that the same problems are reproduced every day.
“And we could all sweep that, except for exceptional case, you were going to come here and see what we’re seeing,” he added.
A question of identity
Benito went on to question whether Mourinho’s preferred style is being reflected on the pitch, given the quality of players at his disposal.
“Mou has historically always been a very strong half block, stealing and attacking vertical. Perfect. That would come perfectly to Madrid with the kind of players it has, but we don’t see it,” Benito said.
The comments cut to the heart of the concerns surrounding Real Madrid this season. Despite a change in the dugout and heavy investment in the squad, the same structural problems appear to persist.
Benito believes that until they are addressed at a deeper level, results like the derby defeat will continue to occur.
For Mourinho, the international break now offers a chance to reflect and find solutions, with the pressure already mounting to prove that his Real Madrid can be more than the sum of its parts.
Real Madrid’s defeat in the derby against Atletico Madrid has left more than just three points behind.
The loss at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday evening has dented the team’s momentum and left Jose Mourinho’s side under immense pressure earliy in the season and needing an immediate response.
After taking 15 points from their opening 21, the Merengues now sit six points behind league leaders FC Barcelona, who have won every league match so far.
The defeat has also cost them second place, with Atletico moving above them on 16 points, one more than their neighbours.
Real Madrid had made a respectable start to Mourinho’s first campaign in charge, but two defeats in their opening seven matches have now put greater pressure on the team.
The manner of the latest loss is also a concern. Atletico were the better side for large periods at the Metropolitano, leaving Los Blancos with plenty to address during the international break.
A demanding October awaits
The international break gives Mourinho and his players time to assess what went wrong, although the disruption means they will not have the full squad together for much of that period.
Once the players return, there will be little time to recover.
Real Madrid’s first test comes on 10 October against Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu. Just four days later, they travel to Italy to face AS Roma in the Champions League before returning home to play Sevilla on 18 October.
The toughest stretch then begins.
RB Leipzig visit the Bernabeu on 21 October for a Champions League fixture, and only four days later the Spanish capital club travel to the Spotify Camp Nou for the first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona on 25 October.
That means five matches in just 16 days, with very little room for another setback.
Tough tests
The three league fixtures against Villarreal, Sevilla and Barcelona will be particularly important.
Real Madrid need to stop the gap at the top from growing, while their Champions League campaign will also demand attention.
AS Roma and Leipzig come in the middle of that demanding run, following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in their opening European fixture.
Real Madrid will finish their difficult October schedule at the Camp Nou and, given the current standings, the match could carry significant weight.
There are still several league rounds to play before then and the table can change considerably, but the six-point gap between the two clubs gives the fixture an added significance.
Barcelona have made a flying start, while Real Madrid have just suffered their first major setback of the season.
The international break gives Mourinho an opportunity to analyse the problems exposed in the derby, but once October begins there will be little time for experimentation.
The next few weeks will provide an early test of whether this Real Madrid side can respond to their first serious setback and keep pace with a Barça team that have started the season perfectly.
