Real Madrid News
Tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz admits he is ‘suffering’ watching Real Madrid; identifies what team is missing
Real Madrid have had a mixed start to the season under Jose Mourinho, with some very good games and some difficult ones, such as the one against Atletico Madrid.
Although refereeing decisions may have hindered Los Blancos at the Metropolitano, their performance left a lot to be desired.
Tennis icon Carlos Alcaraz has offered a concerned assessment of Real Madrid’s start to the season, admitting that watching Mourinho’s team has been difficult.
Alcaraz sees room for improvement
As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, the lifelong Real Madrid supporter discussed his club during an interview with Stats Perform ahead of the Laver Cup in London.
“Right now, I see other teams doing better,” Alcaraz said.
“They are Real Madrid, great players, with talent.”
Despite recognising the individual quality available to Mourinho, the Spanish tennis star believes Madrid have yet to turn that talent into a convincing collective.
“As a team, they can do better. They have to polish a few things,” Alcaraz said.
That assessment feels particularly relevant after the 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid. Defeats against Real Betis and Atletico have already allowed Barcelona to establish a six-point advantage at the top of La Liga.
Alcaraz wants ‘more intensity’
Alcaraz was particularly candid about the experience of watching Madrid this season.
“Right now I’m suffering watching the matches because you never know what’s going to happen,” he said.
“I would say a little more intensity is needed.”
There is some irony in intensity being identified as the problem. Mourinho has built a side packed with powerful players like Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni.
However, intensity is about more than just physicality. Mourinho’s side sit rock bottom in La Liga for total distance, high-intensity distance and the number of high-intensity actions.
Madrid have looked vulnerable when matches become stretched, while their attacking talent has not always translated into collective control.
The Atletico defeat exposed that problem again, with Madrid struggling to impose themselves consistently despite having enough individual quality to decide the match.
Alcaraz’s words reflect those of most Real Madrid fans, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos improve after the international break.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
