The most difficult question to answer is, “who am I?” Some would utter their names, but does a word given to address you define you? It doesn’t. We live our entire lives trying to figure out the answer to that question. Sometimes, people can have wonderful lives and yet not know the answer to that question.
Real Madrid, right now, are facing a similar conundrum. Despite being on a 15-game winning run in La Liga, there seems to be some sort of an identity crisis at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Identity Crisis
When one looks at the way Barcelona plays, they can claim a brand of tiki-taka seasoned with Luis Enrique’s added spice of counter-attacking football. Similarly, Diego Simeone’s tough-tackling and physically imposing Atletico Madrid have their own style of football. They might be labelled as ‘thugs’ by many, but they can still boast of an identity.
Be it Carlo Ancelotti’s quick attacking football with Bayern Munich now or Juventus’ fiery tempo and pressing play, almost every top club in Europe can be identified with a certain brand of football.
However, when one asks a Real Madrid fan about their club’s style of play, they would most likely come up with a confused look on their faces.
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Real Madrid are neither good at counter-attacking like under Jose Mourinho, nor are they playing the quick-passing football that was implemented by Carlo Ancelotti. And tiki-taka was never the Galacticos’ thing.
So what are the Blancos playing? What is their style? What is their identity?
Simple – there isn’t one.
It is difficult to end a Real Madrid game without feeling a little bit of dissatisfaction. The wins are coming, true, but they are not coming in style. With a club like Real Madrid – that has seen some of its most successful managers sacked because of an unattractive playing style, it is difficult to digest.
The Advantage
However, the one good thing about not having a particular playing style is that teams find it difficult to find out a game plan to stop them. How can oppositions design a plan if you don’t know what you are playing against?
Ever since Zinedine Zidane took over the reins at Real, the angel of fortune has smiled upon them. Winning the Champions League within 6 months of management, he brought a lot of joy to the fan base.
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However, the one thing that has been lacking ever since his arrival is a specific playing style. So far, it seems to be working in his favour. The sheer quality of players coupled with their love for the manager has bailed them out of many games.
Tactically, the French legend is yet to show any nuance. It feels like the players have been given all the expressive freedom to do what they want to do. The result? An unscrupulous wave of attacking football that sometimes becomes hard for the fans to digest.
The former French midfield maestro has basically picked up where Rafa Benitez left off. The current Newcastle manager played a similar system with the same preferred XI. However, with Benitez, there was at least a bit of tactical coherence in the system. For some, his style was dull; but there was a style at least.
Benitez, though, never had the players’ approval and, hence, the lack of hunger within them was always apparent. For example, in Madrid’s latest game, the players forged a comeback after being a goal down and with only 4 more minutes to play including stoppage time. This diligence and spirit were never something the former Liverpool manager could exude out of his players.
Zidane’s supreme man-management working, but for how long?
The former World Cup-winning midfielder has, however, excelled at one thing. It is that thing that has carried him thus far – supreme man-management skills. The players looked like drained out batteries under Rafa Benitez, but Zizou’s appointment has recharged them perpetually.
The players now play with more hunger than ever before, giving the impression that they were ready to battle and would go to war for Zidane. Only a legendary figure like Zidane can exude such reverence out of players.
However, there will come a time when the need of tactical brilliance will outweigh the power of man-management—especially against the tougher teams in the Champions League. The players’ will and brilliance might carry them against the mediocre teams in La Liga, but in a scenario where Madrid face Pep Guardiola’s Man City, Zidane will need to come up with a plan.
Right now, the randomness of the team is forming a pattern. It might be carrying them forward, but the French legend must come up with an identity otherwise, it won’t be long when he would find his name among the infamous list of heads that were sacked by the club.
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