Real Madrid News
Real Madrid focusing on special sessions to develop breakthrough defender
Real Madrid defender Raul Asensio is excited about the opportunities ahead and believes he can become a key player for the team.
According to a report from Guillermo Rai in The Athletic, Asensio has been working closely with assistant coaches Davide Ancelotti and Francesco Mauri to improve his positioning on the field.
Interestingly, these special training sessions were similar to those previously held with other players like David Alaba and Eder Militao.
Troubles for Real Madrid
Real Madrid are facing a challenging period due to injuries in their defence. Militao, who was a crucial part of the squad, will be out for about nine months after undergoing surgery for an ACL injury.
Alaba, who is also an important figure in defence, is not expected to return until January, and even then, there are concerns about his ability to reach peak form right away.
With these two key defenders sidelined, Antonio Rudiger is now the only senior, fit centre-back available. For that matter, Aurelien Tchouameni has been utilised as a third centre-back since the start of the season, and he remains an important player for the defence.
Furthermore, while Jesus Vallejo is a popular figure in the dressing room, coach Carlo Ancelotti has not considered him for a starting role. When Militao got injured in the match against Osasuna, it was Asensio, not Vallejo, who was chosen to step in.
As a result of Asencio’s impressive display, Asensio has been included in first-team training going forward. The coaching staff believes that Raul, the Castilla coach and Real Madrid legend, has done an excellent job in developing Asensio’s skills.
With his growing confidence, Asensio is now looking ahead to potential appearances for the first team, including the upcoming match against Liverpool. With these adjustments, Real Madrid are hopeful that their defensive lineup will remain strong despite the current injury setbacks.
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.
