Real Madrid fans are the most demanding in the world, but what they really want to see is the players giving it their all. They have a tendency to distinguish between losing and losing with humiliation, as we saw in El Clasico.
Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Real Madrid (Image courtesy of David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
No of the circumstances, one does not expect Real Madrid to be outplayed, overpowered, or, as cynical as it may sound, shamed. It was a tactical blunder mingled with complacency. A defeat of this magnitude at the Bernabeu to a rebuilding Barcelona squad is, to say the least, humiliating, and reflects the extent to which the team relies on Karim Benzema in the final third.
Everyone's mind was filled with puzzling questions as a result of the game. Is Real Madrid's commanding advantage at the top of LaLiga due to Xavi's late arrival in Barcelona? Is it possible to win the Champions League this season? Is Real Madrid still not equipped to compete with Europe's heavyweights? I'm sure we've all asked similar queries over the years.
We, on the other hand, have been proven wrong every time. There is no doubt that certain areas require improvement, but this club cannot be written off, especially in the Champions League. I've seen some fans dismiss them even before the Chelsea game.
Here are three reasons why Chelsea, regardless of the El Clasico, should not underestimate Real Madrid.
Ferland Mendy and Karim Benzema will return.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, Benzema has been the sole source of Real Madrid's output. Vinicius has stepped up this season and helped him handle the load, but he can only do so much without Benzema's assistance.
The fact that Carlo Ancelotti had to resort to a whole different method to handle Benzema's absence demonstrates how important Benzema is to this squad. A number 9 who can both score and assist may make or break a game like this.
Ferland Mendy is underappreciated, although he packs the left side of the pitch really well. Mendy's defensive support, coupled with Vinicius', will be crucial against Chelsea. Dembele running circles around Nacho just serves to highlight Mendy's significance in the back four. The right side of the pitch will be vulnerable until Madrid signs a new right-back, but fans need not be concerned about the left-back position, at least in the defensive sense.
The return of Benzema and Mendy to the squad will put Real Madrid back in control.
Ancelotti, Carlo
Carlo Ancelotti (Getty Images)
Carlo Ancelotti sees no reason to take another risky tactical move.
The El Clasico was a tactical blunder. Of doubt, the players were at fault, but this game was about Carlo's inadequacies rather than Barcelona's domination.
The team defied a system that had worked so effectively in the Clasicos for the previous three years. The starting lineup suggested a classic 4-3-3, with Federico Valverde on the right flank. However, it was a false nine approach, with Luka Modric playing the role. We've seen time and again that anything other than a 4-3-3 formation rarely works for Real Madrid. There's no better moment to bring up an example from last season's Champions League semi-finals versus Chelsea.
In both legs, Zinedine Zidane reverted to a risky three-at-the-back strategy, and Real Madrid suffered severely. Not to add that Vinicius started as a right-wing back to allow a rather inactive Eden Hazard to play on the left wing. Big games necessitate a typical 4-3-3 formation, and I think Carlo Ancelotti has realized this by now.
Things became worse in the second half of the Clasico when Carlo went to a back three. I'm not suggesting Real Madrid would have won if they had started with a 4-3-3 formation, but they would not have conceded four goals.
With Benzema and Mendy returning, Ancelotti has no reason to change his formation against Chelsea. With a 4-3-3 formation, we should expect a lot more even struggle. Everything is dependent on what the players do.
Champions League, Real Madrid Ancelotti, Carlo (Getty Images)
We're talking about Real Madrid here, especially in the Champions League.
If we were talking about any other club in the world, I would have chosen a more analytical argument, but Real Madrid cannot be underestimated simply because they are Real Madrid. When no one believes they can do the impossible, they do it anyhow.
To use a recent example, PSG completely humiliated Real Madrid in the first leg. The team appeared to be playing for a tie, which is as terrible as it gets. They maintained a deep block, did not counter-press, were unable to maintain possession, and finished the game with 0 shots on goal.
There are games when the team does not dominate on the ball, especially against opponents like Barcelona and Manchester City, but the intent to counter is always present. There's a tremendous difference between playing defensive and passive football, and the first leg was the epitome of the latter.
There was no sporting reason to expect a comeback, and yet it happened. Real Madrid, regardless of their form, comes to life when they smell blood. Particularly in the Champions League. There is no reason to regard Los Blancos as the underdogs in their match against Chelsea.
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