#4 Pepe proves his worth yet again
Pepe put up another solid performance at the heart of Real Madrid’s defense alongside skipper Sergio Ramos to keep Deportivo’s front-men silent. The Portuguese has had a season full of ups and down but it looks like he is going to end the footballing year on a good note.
Earlier this season, sacked coach Rafa Benitez told Pepe that he wasn’t needed at the club, isolating him from first team action for a long period. There were times when the centre-back didn’t even feature on the bench. But since the appointment of Zinedine Zidane, Pepe has been starting regularly again.
Performances like the one against Deportivo show precisely why the Portugal international can be trusted. Pepe kept the defense well regimented and was a sentinel at the back. He was well aware and alert throughout the 90 minutes and did his job well by containing Deportivo’s top scorer Lucas Perez.
It is quite evident that Pepe’s contribution will prove invaluable against Atletico Madrid in Milan later this month.
