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Since the onset of the current season, fans have been waiting for the perpetual turnaround of form that has now become closely associated with the spirit of Real Madrid over the years. And while this season it hasn't happened yet, it doesn't feel like happening anytime sooner. And while the prime reason might be attributed to the departures and subsequent inactivity in the transfer window for the galactico replacements for Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo; there has been a whole bunch of the Madrid squad that is performing much below their potential.
While they are still very much in the mix for all the titles, these players must pick up their socks for the business end of the season.
#5 Luka Modric
While it may come as a surprise for a Ballon d'Or winner to be pulling the team back, but Modric's ineffective shifts in the creative third have left Madrid absolutely toothless with the absence of Isco in their ranks as well. The linkup play with the front three has also been found wanting even though the top 3 have been playing together for a few years now with the current midfield. And while he might be cut some slack for the tiring run to the finals of the World Cup, he must take on the mantle of Madrid's most creative player with the front 3 out of sorts.
There has been a lot of furore regarding whether he deserved the Ballon d'Or over Ronaldo, Messi or Griezmann and much of that debate find its heart in the performances he has put in this season for Real. He has been one of the most consistent performers for a team that has won 4 Champions League in the past 5 seasons and must improve if Madrid has to salvage anything at all from this season.
#4 Sergio Ramos
The Los Blancos captain must take the blame for this drab run too both as a player and as a leader. The Madrid back line has shipped goals aplenty this season and their defending has been lackadaisical at times with some poor goals conceded that don't reflect well on the reigning European Champions. They have conceded goals at roughly 1.5 times the rate of just the previous season. The centre-back pairing have been together for 5 years now, with him and Varane forming a compatible partnership with positional play and strength of Ramos complimenting the pace and Varane's tendency to stay back and not venture into higher areas of the field allowing Ramos more freedom. But that understanding has been missing from the two stalwarts on several occasions with lack of defensive fullbacks stretching them at the back.
He has also left a lot to be desired in the way he has led the team with Madrid often found sitting back on opponents and not putting them away; a careless attitude that has cost Madrid several late points against lowly opponents. His legacy as one of the great centre-backs has been enhanced by his surreal goal-scoring prowess in the air. And he has already equalled his goal tally from the previous season; helped off course by the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo from the set-pieces. With a wasteful Asensio, a waning Benzema and a conspicuous Bale upfront, it may come to his goals at the important junctures of the season.
#3 Casemiro
Undeniably the backbone of Madrid's past two Champions League where they have looked vulnerable throughout but yet has come trumped in the important matches and it's down to the dirty work put in by Casemiro at the fag end of Zidane's midfield diamond. However, the shift from 4-1-2-1-2 or a 4-4-2 under Zidane to the holding 4-3-3 that Madrid played under Lopetegui has seen more pressure being directed towards him in the weakened midfield and he struggled to clear the lines often; putting in dirty challenges and getting booked in the process. A player like Casemiro in the position he plays in on a booking is a disaster waiting to happen and he has to walk a tightrope for the rest of the match.
While he has been out for quite some time due to lengthy injury absence, his replacement; the youth academy product Marcus Llorente has excelled in his role with crucial interceptions and ball holding skills. Madrid have been more assured at the back since Llorente has been a part of the midfield. With his return imminent, it would be crucial to see whether he could regain his form under Solari who hasn't shied away from dropping the under-performing starters for youth players.
#2 Marcelo
Some things appear good only as long as they work and offer benefits. While he might be unarguably the world's best attacking fullback, he leaves a lot wanting defensively. Marcelo has had a difficult dynamic with the impatient and often too demanding Madrid faithful who have called out the veteran for his defensive lapses. It's quite clear that he and Asensio don't share the same telepathic chemistry he shared with Ronaldo that made that left flank so fearsome. The poor interplay has often led to loosing out possession near the opponent's box that has left Madrid susceptible to counters which he has shown a clear unwillingness to defend.
And while the injury hasn't helped, you can't expect him to change his playing style at the fag end of his career. Solari must look at some alternatives as oppositions have been exploiting that left flank in several matches. With Theo shipped to Real Sociedad in the summer, Madrid are a bit thin for a replacement with Reguilon too young to start and Odriozola's preferred wing on the right.
#1 Marco Asensio
Asensio was considered Madrid's natural Ronaldo replacement with several similarities in the playing style of the two exceptional talents. Last season, he was touted as the season he would come of age, but all the spotlight was stolen by another youngster from France. But for Spain, he has taken up the mantle and has established himself as a starter for Luis Enrique's side. But the nonchalant demeanour that endeared him to thousands of fan has been sadly lacking from his play this season. He has been found hurried with the ball at his feet, often trying to find the next pass rather than dribbling his way past the opposition players. The confidence with which he leathered long-range screamers and curled balls into the corners has been sorely missing from his play, passing several glorious opportunities to shoot.
With the absence of Ronaldo, Isco and Bale from the team, you expect him to take on the Free kick responsibilities but Kroos and even Ramos have been preferred over him. This fall in the pecking order reminds you a lot of Alvaro Morata who was tipped to be the next 'Luis Suarez' but his finding his place in starting XI threatened by Giroud. His poor finishing in 1v1 situations and his under confidence to shoot when already having worked space for himself has let him and the team down in several important moments this season. He needs to find his scoring boots and the faith Solari has put in him is all the right boost a youngster like him needs.
