Who could have ever imagined winners of the Champions League title for three consecutive years would fail to occupy a place for themselves in the quarterfinals of the 2018-19 season?
It hasn’t been a great season for Real Madrid and the dismay is quite evident among the fans. Their humiliating defeat to Barcelona by 1-5 will remain etched in the minds of the people for a long time to come. Everything seems to be falling apart for the Vikings since the exit of its forward striker, Cristiano Ronaldo and resignation of team manager Zedan post commencement of last season. Even if you are a regular in Betway football betting, we are sure you have been surprised by Real Madrid’s below par performance this season.
On the other hand, team managers swapping hands mid-season has not improved matters for this dwindling side. So, what do Betway Nigeria experts feel contributed to the team’s poor showing?
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s Exit
Ronaldo’s transfer to the Italian side Juventus has cost the Vikings its unrivalled status. It wouldn’t be wrong to say the Number 7 maestro was the spine which held the team upright for a year short of a decade. During his tenure with the club, he scored a record 450 goals. While Juventus are reaping the benefits of having a four-time Ballons d’Or and three Golden Boot award winner on their side, Real Madrid is yet to find a replacement.
Although there have been talks of cracking a deal with the likes of Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah to fill in the void, nothing seems to have materialised.
- Zedan’s Renunciation
The stepping down of Zinedine Zidane as coach, post Madrid’s Champions League win came as a shock to the football fraternity. Zidane’s successful stint with the Vikings won them 3 consecutive titles and the mystery surrounds the sudden move. Soon after Zedan’s resignation, the team management struggled to find a suitable replacement for the coach.
After weighing several options, the Spanish national team manager, Julen Lopetegui was appointed the new manager. A professional blow for Lopetegui followed this appointment as he got sacked from the national team. Real Madrid faced one of its worse phases during Julen’s 4-month long brief tenure with a stumbling performance both at home and away matches.
The sacking of Julen Lopetegui opened doors for Argentine legend Santiago Solari in the hope to turn things around for the falling side. As much as Solari tried, he couldn’t any work wonders either. Two consecutive defeats to Barcelona and latest against Ajax were the last nail in the coffin for Solari.
While the team management decides who would be the next best to fit into the French maestro Zedan’s shoes, the decision remains uncertain whether Solari would see the team to the end of this season or would have to hang his boots earlier.
Hazy Future
To make things worse for the side, reports of Gareth Bale’s murky future with the team are doing rounds. A legend of the game, Bale has played a pivotal role in Bernabeu bringing home 4 Champions League titles and lifting a La Liga trophy. However, rifts among teammates and critical views of the fans have put a question mark whether Bale’s contract until 2022 would be terminated mid-way.
Do you agree with the Betway experts? Let us know below.
