FanPost

THE BITTER SWEET TRUTH THIS SEASON.

It is no longer news that Real Madrid are the 2019/2020 La Liga Champions. This had come three years after they last lifted it in 2016/2017 La Liga Season. And what makes this current title sweetest is that it came a season after the departure of one the greatest Players in their history and arguably in the World, Cristiano Ronaldo.

All the Players contributed immensely in wrestling the title from the hands of our bitter rivals, Barcelona. Outside the Goalkeepers and some few players, majority of the other players all had assists and goals.

The Coach Zinadine Zidane contributions was immense. He not only has the magic touches, he also has the tactical, technical and man management nous of the game of football. Clearly, he revived a dead team like the Biblical Ezekiel made the dry bones to rise.

I think it high time we come down from the euphoria of the winnings of the just concluded season and face the reality. I am not in anyway undermining the achievements of our club this season. But let’s be honest, like they said "THE TRUTH IS BITTER".

1. RAMOS IS OUR BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS.

In as much as some people will disagree with me, Sergio Ramos is our most important and probably the best Player since the departure of CR7. Though every other players did their best, but when you see Ramos on the pitch you will experience a kind of assurance spirit.

He has lots of mixed qualities which define his uniqueness. He is a true leader, his absence was well felt in Real Madrid elimination in the UEFA Champions League against Manchester City. He is our second top goal scorer, a penalty kick specialist, a free kick specialist, bad guy, good guy, motivator.

He defends the back line with his heart as much as he scores goals whether with his head, penalty, free kick, Cruyff Penalty style. I fear the day he retires from Real Madrid.

2. OUR ATTACK IS NOT SUPERB.

When a defender is the second goal scorer and best player in your team, then there is problem. Real Madrid boast talented forwards and attackers ( Benzema, Hazard, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Bale, Asensio, Mariano, James Rodriguez,) but inconsistency, personal issues and injuries have not helped matters.

Hazard being over weight and constantly in the treatment table did not help his cause this season. Asensio being injured all through the season. Rodrygo and Vinicius lack of consistency, Benzema shooting wide and missing chances etc.

They really need to sit up and perform better in the coming season.

3. THE FALL OF BARCELONA.

We all know that Barcelona are a shadow of themselves. Ageing squad, over dependence on Messi and Management crisis played huge part in their down fall this season. The way they were raped mercilessly by Bayern Munich (8-2) in the Quarter finals of the 2019/202 UEFA Champions League all confirmed that all is not well in the Barcelona Camp. I wonder what the aggregate score will be if it were two legged.

Real Madrid no doubt capitalized on the dwindling form of Barcelona because throughout the season, the 1st and 2nd position were being switched on and off between the two teams until after the covid 19 break when Real Madrid stitched 10 consecutive wins albeit Barcelona dropping vital points.

4. DROP IN QUALITY OF TEAMS IN LA LIGA.

For the past ten seasons, the winner of La Liga averaged 90+ points but we won the league with 87 points. This shows a slight drop in the quality of teams in La Liga. The absence of La Liga teams in the UEFA Champions League Semi finals 2019/2020 also supports my point.

All in all, there are many reasons for Real Madrid to be optimistic heading into the new season. With a lot of young people in the team, I believe they must have learnt a lot last season and their development must have improved tremendously. The recall of Martin Odgaard and Ceballos will surely improve the team. Asensio being fit and injury free will sure be on fire. Hazard discovering his form just as in his Chelsea days will sure be a threat to our opponents. Zidane unpredictability with techniques and tactics with these talented squads will 100% give our opponents coaches enough headache and sleepless night. The Crisis in Catatonia if not well handled will surely be at our advantage.