Real Madrid News
Real Madrid furious with referee for failing to stop Mallorca’s repeated fouls
Real Madrid’s title hopes took a massive hit when the reigning Spanish champions slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of RCD Mallorca.
Upset by the result, a recent report from MARCA suggests the Real Madrid camp is livid with the referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez. Although they have not called out the referee for having an agenda, they have pointed out his incompetence during the ninety minutes.
Real Madrid are particularly livid about how the referee was willing to hand out more yellow cards to their own players, rather than the opposition players, even though it was Mallorca who committed significantly more fouls.
The hosts indeed made 29 fouls in the game, unlike Real Madrid’s 14. Yet, both teams ended the game with the same number of yellow cards – five.
The Merengue unit consider this very unnatural and have raised objections over the referee for the same, especially considering that three of Mallorca’s yellow cards came during the game’s final stretch.
Real Madrid are also unhappy with the allotment of extra time. Especially during the final embers of the game, there was a moment when Mariano receives a yellow in the 89th minute and the game does not resume until the 92nd minute. Yet, the referee did not compensate for the lost time.
In addition to their frustration with the referee, the Real Madrid camp is furious with Mallorca’s strategy. They believe the opposition’s approach was to simply find Vinicius Junior and get him out of the game, with Pablo Maffeo and club captain Antonio Raillo, in particular, teaming up.
Quite unsurprisingly, Vinicius was involved in an incident once again with Raillo, though shortly after the game, experienced defender Nacho Fernandez came out in his defence, urging the media and the fans to offer the youngster some semblance of space.
According to a report from journalist Jorge C Picon, former Tottenham Hotspur and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino is in pole position to become the next manager of Real Madrid, if Carlo Ancelotti leaves at the end of the season.
Ancelotti’s topic has become a topic of much debate and discussion over the past few weeks. The Italian tactician has a contract that runs until next year and has stated that he wishes to see it out.
However, the team’s failure to win any major title this season could end up spelling trouble or the 63-year-old. The La Liga title looks like a lost cause already while Real Madrid are in a disadvantageous position in Copa del Rey as well.
The UEFA Champions League remains Ancelotti’s best bet to win a trophy this season. Should he do so, the Italian could continue at Real Madrid or even possibly sign a new contract extension.
But, failure to land the trophy could end his second stint at the Santiago Bernabeu and Pochettino is said to be the frontrunner for the position in that case.
The Argentine is currently unemployed after being sacked by PSG in July last year. The 51-year-old did not have the most memorable of stints in Paris but his stock has not diminished in the Real Madrid offices, who had considered appointing him once before as well.
Thomas Tuchel was also a candidate for Real Madrid and talks were also held with him. But, the club informed him that if Ancelotti won the UCL, he would stay on, which played a part in the German signing for Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, club legend Raul Gonzalez, who is currently the manager of Real Madrid Castilla, is also a candidate, but is seen only as Plan B, with Pochettino very much the frontrunner at this point.
A lot will depend on how the rest of the season pans out and whether Ancelotti is able to lead Real Madrid to back-to-back Champions League triumphs.
