Lopetegui doesn’t believe Super Cup loss changes transfer plans

With Real Madrid’s disappointing loss to Atlético in Wednesday’s Super Cup, many are expecting that Florentino Perez will finally make a splash before the summer window closes on August 31. Lopetegui has weighed in on if their transfer plans have changed as a result of a loss.

“What was outlined by the club’s sports policy does not change by this final. Now La Liga starts, which is a very important title for me, and we have to start well.”

“We were playing well in extra time, we are dominating, combining, playing together, with good feelings, and after 3-2 the game has changed, problems have appeared and we have looked for solutions with risky decisions.”

Lopetegui doesn’t outright say that there are no plans to further improve the squad, though it does seem to be implied. While they may get a starter in place of or backup to Benzema before the window closes, it doesn’t appear they are after a big fish like Hazard. We’ll just have to wait and see what transpires by the 31st, if anything at all.

Marcelo remains positive over quality of squad, despite loss to Atlético

Marcelo has given his thoughts as well of the club moving forward into the new Spanish season.

“We need to change our mindset because we have a whole season ahead of us. I don’t make the signings. The squad looks good to me. We are united as a group. We played a good game until extra time.”

“The winners are those who make fewer mistakes. Tonight, we failed and we don’t want to make those errors again because it cost us a final. They made fewer mistakes and deserved to win. These are mistakes resulting from fatigue, from not much training. Many players have been late back due to the World Cup, but that is no excuse.”

Marcelo himself didn’t have that great of a game against Atlético to say the least, but his message is a good one. Real have two matches before the window closes, so we’ll get a better idea of the quality of the squad in the first two matches of the season.

The panic button shouldn’t be hit until getting through both fixtures and into the end of the deadline, when we have a better idea of what the full squad actually can contribute.

Casemiro says Ronaldo is missed, but club must move on

Casemiro has also remained positive of the squad going into this new season.

“Sure, we cannot cover things, Cristiano showed here that he has been the best in the world. But it is already past, we cannot keep thinking about him.”

“We have to talk about the players we have. We want to make a stronger, more solid team, but Cristiano is already in the past.”

“It’s still the beginning of everything. Julen is doing a great job, trying to maintain the illusion, which is not easy. We have won four Champions Leagues in the last five years. We have won almost everything, he is doing a great job maintaining the players’ illusion of winning. It’s still too early to talk about Julen. We cannot cover Julen’s work by tonight’s result.”

“Making excuses is not my profile or that of Madrid. There are no excuses.”

While Casemiro did make some errors early on, it was clear the team was affected by losing his presence when he was subbed off for injury. There’s plenty of doubt regarding this club in the post-Ronaldo era, but at least the players remain confident and are recognizing their mistakes.

Real should be expected to defeat both Getafe and Girona, their first two matches of the season pre-deadline. While there is panic and uncertainty going into the Getafe match, especially after a big loss, the club has to remain confident in the squad that they do have available.

Whether or not they actually make anymore signings, Real have to play to their current ability and try and take all 3 points from both fixtures.

One loss in the Super Cup fielding the full lineup for the first time since the Champions League Final under a new system and manager is not a huge cause for concern. But, should they lose or draw against weaker LaLiga sides in their first two matches and fail to make appropriate moves at the deadline, the worry is certainly justified moving forward.