An out-of-form Xabi means a change in formation, then. Mourinho has not changed things around to compensate. Playing with only one man in front of defense, so we can have five in attack, was viable while Xabi could do the job alone. Not any more, so the formation will have to change, probably to a more traditional one with two guys right in front of the defense. I don't see anyone doing Xabi's job alone.
In their last season under Rijkaard Barcelona were as farcical as this. They didn't have a mass overhaul and the rest is history as they say. You don't go from the "team of 100 points" to a complete mess in 6 months. These are world class players we're talking about here. No one could convince me players like Xabi, Ramos, Dí Maria, Özil, Benzema, Higuaín and yes, Cristiano Ronaldo are finished. The team is lost, but a major overhaul in the summer is not the antidote.
There is a difference between saying they are finished and dont want to be here. Ronaldo for one doesnt want to be here.
Why would he go to PSG? The I-want-more-money speculations were brought up by the media and Zlatan and Ronaldo would fight each other instead of fighting for each other I'd bet he wants to go to his old club Man United. I personally don't want him to leave RM, but someone has. If we aren't succesful in the CL either, Mou needs to leave this season. If Real wants to sell Ronaldo, we need to invest in our team by buying players like Reus (or Neymar), a new RB and Yaya Toure for Alonso Sell Modric to buy Yaya Toure and let him play with Alonso
What about the rest of the players you've trashed in your meltdowns though? At some point in the season you've probably wished for everyone of our players to leave save Callejon....
Why should we care? If we get an astronomic offer, and he wants to go, goodbye. Also, the current team is comfortably good enough to beat Malaga. No sense in talking about transfers, we should be winning those games, comfortably.
Yeah that's true there was issues but damn that's even worse for us because I don't think just sacking mourinho will fix everything. If our dressing room is so cracked that means we need to sell and buy who knows how many players to try and fix it. It's frustrating thinking about the current situation.
Why aren't we winning then? Or is Mou in the minds of Pepe and Ramos, shouting for long, useless balls ?
Alex Ferguson interviewed by British newspapers today, asked about the CL draw and Ronaldo and instead as before he said he was 'unbuyable' this time he said something like 'I think he will want a new challenge in his career before he is done, no reason to see why he wouldn't consider coming back here' There have also always been a lot of reports of how close those 2 have remained since CR left
Sacking him now probably won't fix anything, except for confirming the players are half-assing it to spite Mou when the inevitable good run of form under a new coach occurs, on that I can agree. I don't think our dressing room is "cracked" though, I think (and this is speculation) the dressing room is pretty unified and it's a Players v. Coach thing..these players overall have shown that they are pretty loyal to each other. What I'd like to see, in the short term anyway, is the coach and these players agreeing to some sort compromise (again), applying the "no one is bigger than the Club" mantra practically (ie on the pitch) instead of using it as an excuse to continue underachieving. I think we all know change of some sort is inevitable this summer so how 'bout they all just sack up, grin and bear it and start playing/coaching to their full potential?
So this is the image that Casillas posted on instagram before the match: The question in the media now is what's the intended message? Is it the picture as in "this is the drop that causes everything to spill over" or is about the saying: "The drop opens the door not because of its strength, but because of its insistence." Or maybe there was just a leak in the visitors locker room at Malaga.
So is madrid the only club this has happend to mourinho? Also I don't know I want to believe the players are loyal to each other but at the same time I think there is factions that don't get along with each other. At least it seems that way to me seeing their on field body language but maybe I'm thinking too much about it. Is it just me or in this players vs coach thing, the players are looking quite selfish? I mean irregardless of the coach at least have respect for the jersey your putting on and the fans who are watching you.
Of course there might be players who don't get long with one another but if you all agree, for example, the coach is the issue then you can put aside your "differences" for a common cause no?
Yeah lets send some cryptic message thru the media. Good Job Capitan! Trying to outdo Ronaldo's "Im sad, comment"? Edit: What happened to the image, bestest capitan took it down?
Yeah, this is odd. I picked it up off a feed that is very pro-Mou / anti-media / f the world. Even they are asking wtf is going on. BTW, Mourinho has used the media as well this season. Many, many times. None of it helps. Not from him, not from the players.
I love Casillas, a lot but I'm not sure he's got the "know-how" to send a message like that....sorry. He probably saw it and thought, "what a cool picture....there are even words on it! I'm going to post it on my Instagram for all my friends." He can't even dress himself in age appropriate clothing most days
That was just awful from Iker. May as well post a GTFO picture and Mou's name. This is far worse that I expected.
Very hard to believe this could have happened mourinho arrived in 2010 with good sense that he would win a lot of trophies with real madrid but in this 3rd season he has lost the locker room and there is big doubt we can win the champions league.
To be honest it is a miracle he has kept the locker room for two and a half seasons. Usually our locker room is lost by the first or half way through the second.