Zidane’s Second Real Madrid Era Is Not Good Enough to Enter the Europa League Zone

DBasia.news –  The decline of Real Madrid’s performance occurred in the 2018-19 season after winning three consecutive Champions League titles.

Not only did the journey of Sergio Ramos et al run aground in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, then lost in the race for the LaLiga title, Madrid also experienced three coach changes from Julen Lopetegui, Santiago Solari, to Zinedine Zidane (second period).

All three entered matches, challenges and different competitions in several phases of the 2018-19 season. But of the three, if comparing competition in LaLiga, Lopetegui is the most severe and Zidane is between Solari and Lopetegui.

Tracing statistics from the AS, Solari is the most successful with 37 points (72 percent of points that can be achieved) in 17 matches. Since replacing Lopetegui, Solari has been able to improve team performance in several aspects.

The former Madrid player midway through 2000-2005 was able to reserve several top names and entrust young players to play. In addition, Solari also brought Madrid to the Club World Cup champion.

Solari was sacked at the beginning of 2019, however, his points were enough to bring Madrid into the Champions League zone. While Lopetegui only won 14 points (46 percent) in 10 matches before being fired.

The situation faced by Lopetegui is more complicated because he came from the Spanish national team and was not given enough time to prepare the team, especially after the 2018 World Cup. Amid the adaptation process, Madrid experienced inconsistency in playing.

Then, when Zidane came back to train the club in the second period, fans hoped the legend would be able to revive the team that had won the Champions League three-time consecutive championship.

Nevertheless, Madrid’s condition was not ideal when he came because they no longer had targets to pursue. The loss of motivation was difficult to generate by Zidane. As a result, Zidane only won 17 points (51 percent) throughout 11 matches.

“In a team like Real Madrid, it’s difficult to maintain motivation when you know you won’t win the trophy. Especially in a few moments in each match,” said Zinedine Zidane.

“Even so, this is normal. All Real Madrid players are professional. We will try to end the season at the highest position.”

It is difficult to recognize that the acquisition of points did not even bring Madrid to finish in the Europa League zone. It’s natural if the focus of management, fans, and Zidane is now diverted to the 2019 summer transfer market.

Carrying out the resurrection mission, Madrid is predicted to make a good transfer shopping this summer and quickly forget the bad season of 2018-19.