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After not being able to achieve the comeback against Atlético de Madrid in the Copa del Rey last Thursday, Carlo Ancelotti, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo apologized to the fans for not having fulfilled their expectations, but also claimed that this bad result would enable them to fight for the league and the Champions League in better shape. Ronaldo was particularly emphatic on this issue:
Your condition can't always be optimal, I don't know any player who is always at his 100%. We will be flying again in two or three weeks, both me and the team. We will go to the Calderón to win the league.
The good thing about having been knocked out of the Copa del Rey is that Los Blancos will be able to focus in La Liga while Atlético and Barcelona will need to fight each other for a spot in the semifinals. If they want to give a definitive blow to the league, Real Madrid will need to win all their games before visiting the Calderón, where a new victory could be decisive.
| Real Madrid | FC Barcelona | Atlético de Madrid | |
| Day 19 (Jan 17th-18th) | Getafe (A) | Deportivo (A) | Granada (H) |
| Day 20 (Jan 24th-25th) | Córdoba (A) | Elche (A) | Rayo (H) |
| Day 21 (Jan 31st-Feb 1st) | Real Sociedad (H) | Villarreal (H) | Eibar (A) |
| Day 16 (Feb 4th) | Sevilla (H) | - | - |
| Day 22 (Feb 7th-8th) | Atlético de Madrid (A) | Athletic (H) | Real Madrid (H) |
While it is true that Barcelona's and Atlético's schedules don't seem too demanding, it would not be too surprising if both of them dropped points before Day 22, as they will have their Copa del Rey double clash in between their first three games shown on the table. If Real Madrid win their next four games, they will get to the Calderón, at least, four points ahead of Barcelona and seven points ahead of Atlético, and their morale should be optimal to finally beat their neighbours. If they manage to do so, the league could look white before the Champions League games arrive again.
Therefore, it is our coach's duty to make his players achieve their best condition for these decisive period in La Liga. Real Madrid have four games in twenty days and no long-distance journeys before visiting the Calderón, so there should be no problem to get there with all of our players in an optimal condition and with new plans to out-coach Simeone. The league must be ours.