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Madrid stars playing for their futures as summer rebuild looms
MADRID, March 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Real Madrid have 12 games left to salvage
some pride and perhaps save Santiago Solari his job.
Although it is hard to imagine even the very best of run-ins allowing the
Argentinian to remain as coach next season.
Something close to 12 wins could do it, but even that is unlikely to
persuade club president Florentino Perez to overlook a season that was over
before the middle of March.
Besides, nothing Madrid have shown in recent weeks suggests they are set
for a sprint-finish, still less a run that would make Barcelona nervous, the
Catalans 12 points clear following their victory at the Santiago Bernabeu
last weekend.
Atletico Madrid, five points in front, are more catchable, particularly if
Diego Simeone’s side complete the job against Juventus next week and the
Champions League – not to mention a final at their own Wanda Metropolitano –
becomes the key focus.
“We are sad and hurt,” Solari said after the 4-1 defeat to Ajax on Tuesday.
“But the season continues. It’s true the gap in the league is very big but we
have to stand up. Madrid always come back.”
Just as finishing third in La Liga last season mattered little once Real
were crowned European champions, snatching second after a miserable exit in
the last 16 would certainly not make amends.
Instead, Solari’s beleaguered side face a struggling Real Valladolid on
Sunday, looking for a victory to suggest their seven-day crisis will not give
way to a three-month collapse.
Eight points should be enough to avoid dropping into a race for the top
four, particularly given those closest are Getafe and Alaves, each enjoying
remarkable seasons but perhaps unlikely to storm down the home straight.
Which leaves the best part of 11 weeks for Madrid’s players to convince the
club of their own futures, as well as the future of their coach.
– Elder statesmen on trial –
Regardless of what happens to Solari, this is the kind of season that
prompts a rethink, and perhaps a revamp of the squad in the summer, with a
handful of older players particularly under scrutiny.
Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Karim Benzema have all
under-performed to varying degrees in recent weeks.
“We’ve all failed to find our best level this season,” said Kroos on
Tuesday. “I’m the first to admit that.” “We could have done so much more,”
said Nacho.
Conversely, Luka Modric, heavily linked with a move to Italy last summer,
may feel it is time for a fresh start while there is little chance of Solari
allowing Isco to prove his worth, although the Spaniard’s prospects would
transform as soon as a new coach came in.
While Real Madrid are in the unusual position of focusing solely now on La
Liga, Barcelona and Atletico will keep one eye on their own Champions League
ties this weekend.
Atletico host Leganes on Saturday before taking a 2-0 lead over Juventus to
Turin on Tuesday. Barca are at home to Rayo Vallecano, with a return against
Lyon to come on Wednesday, following a goalless opening leg.
Barca were worryingly open in their Copa del Rey defeat of Real last week
but much tighter in the league victory on Saturday, when a controlled 1-0 win
showed the kind of nous they might well need in Europe.
“We were much better in this match,” Ernesto Valverde said. “The other day
we won 3-0 but lacked control. This time we dominated the ball and when the
chances came, we were ruthless.”
Fixtures (times GMT)
Friday
Athletic Bilbao v Espanyol (2000)
Saturday
Alaves v Eibar (1200), Atletico Madrid v Leganes (1515), Barcelona v Rayo
Vallecano (1730), Getafe v Huesca (2045)
Sunday
Celta Vigo v Real Betis (1100), Girona v Valencia (1515), Levante v
Villarreal (1730), Sevilla v Real Sociedad (1730), Real Valladolid v Real
Madrid (2045)
BSS/AFP/GMR/0906 hrs