Real Madrid 2020-21: A Trophyless Season

                                   REAL MADRID 2020-21: A TROPHYLESS SEASON

credit: ManagingMadrid

  ̴Shiven Roy

Edited by: Mitansh Kagalwala

Real Madrid’s 2020-21 season described in a few words would be unstable and erratic.

The team's domestic league performance seemed average and inconsistent throughout with unexpected losses to Alaves and Cadiz, but there were glimpses of great play during the big games against Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona.

The team eventually played well enough to still be in with a shot at the title till the final match day, requiring Atletico to lose and to win themselves to clinch a surprise comeback league win. Unfortunately, a late Suarez for their Madrid neighbours kept Real in second place.

1. Experience and Age: Real Madrid are an old, ageing side, but they showed that experience matters, winning both the El Clasicos against a younger and talented Barcelona side, and took four points out of six against Atletico. Real’s experience took them all the way to the semi-final of the Champions League, where they eventually fell to eventual-winners Chelsea.
2. Replacement for Ronaldo: Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo left the Los Blancos in the summer of 2018, Real Madrid have been desperately on the lookout for a replacement. Gareth Bale was supposed to step out of the shadows, but didn’t, Mariano Diaz hasn’t been able to fulfil expectations, and the mercurial Belgian talent Eden Hazard has been perpetually injured, unable to replicate his Chelsea form.
3. Sergio Ramos and Eder Militiao: At 35 years of age, Sergio Ramos, Los Blancos’s greatest ever defender, is in the business end of his career. Further, rumours are abound that Ramos is leaving the Madrid side in favour of Neymar’s PSG. Ramos was missing at the heart of defence for a majority of the season, first with Coronavirus and then with injury. In his absence, Madrid’s defence was expected to struggle, but one squad player rose to the challenge, taking up the mantle from the Spanish veteran. Eder Militao had his greatest season in a white shirt, marshalling the Madrid defence. His defensive stats during games are outstanding and he falls only behind Sergio Ramos in long balls and pass accuracy. His brilliant block to take Ilaix Moriba’s shot onto the crossbar in the dying minutes of El Clasico will be fondly remembered by Madrid fans. The Madrid faithful will be assured by Militao’s displays that the future of their defence is in good hands.
4. Isco and Marco Asensio: Both the Spanish stars have not had the best of seasons. In spite of having great technique and showing up in big games in the past, Real need more than a squad player, especially with an ageing midfield. Reinforcements, preferably on the younger and more consistent side, are required.
5. Youth players: Several players from the Madrid squad are nearing retirement age. Whilst the experience in the team is commendable, the club needs to start looking out for younger players. How long will Sergio Ramos (35), Toni Kroos (31), Luka Modric (35), Casemiro (29), and Benzema (33) carry Madrid on their shoulders? Fortunately, Real have been heavily investing in their youth, and while some of their transfers have failed, a few of their younger players have broken into the first team (Militao, Vinicius), and players from Real’s academy and their Castilla reserve team are breaking through. A great example is Miguel Gutierrez. Gutierrez plays with a confidence akin to a first team player, and is able to play at centre back or left back, the Madrid faithful must surely be waiting eagerly to see Miguel play with the first team.
6. Karim Benzema: Karim Benzema had a brilliant 2020-21 season, scoring 23 goals and racking up 9 assists in La Liga, and being called back up to the French national team after a 6-year hiatus. However, the 33-year old is ageing, and requires support from the rest of the Madrid attack. Vinicius lacks the final pass, Eden Hazard is yet to regain his form, and Isco and Asensio haven’t been good enough. Real will try and sign Haaland or Mbappe in the summer, but if unsuccessful, will have to look elsewhere for forwards to complement their attack.