5 reasons why 2015 has been one of the worst years for Real Madrid in recent history

Real Madrid will want to forget 2015 in a hurry and will probably be thanking their lucky stars that just three weeks remain until the new year is upon us. It has been a horrific 12 months for Los Blancos, both on and off of the pitch, and some of which was their own doing.Rafael Benitez has had to bear the brunt of supporters ire, but the wounds cut much, much deeper than the manager. That Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez are clearly underwhelmed by his appointment is a convenient excuse for buck passing.The seeds of Real’s annus horribilis were sown well before Benitez took charge...

#1 Heaviest defeat in four years to Atletico Madrid

Ancelotti oversaw Real Madrid’s worst defeat in four years in the 4-0 drubbing by rivals Atletico Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real side were a lot more expansive and pleasing on the eye than the version which is ending 2015. The manager was also more well-liked and respected in the dressing room.

However the fact remains that the Italian ended up with no silverware at all and to that end, despite a win percentage that was the best in the clubs’ history to that point, Florentino Perez had some justification in removing him and replacing him with Rafael Benitez.

One of the worst outings under his tutelage was just across town to the Vicente Calderon in the early part of the year.

As has become his trademark, Diego Simeone had Atletico Madrid and their fervent band of supporters right up for the game and Real were completely and comprehensively destroyed by four goals to nil.

It was Real’s heaviest defeat in four years and the nature of the performance and the time in the season it arrived probably started sowing the seed in Perez’s mind as to looking elsewhere.

X-rated viewing if you were a Real Madrid fan.

#2 Iker Casillas\' silent goodbye

The club’s handling of legend Casillas has drawn a lot of flak

Across the country in Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez was receiving the most ostentatious of goodbye’s from the club he had served with aplomb for so many years.

Not just a staged goodbye with a large number of teammates present to speak about what the finest midfielder of his generation meant to the club and to them personally, but a stadium high “Gracies (thank you) Xavi” banner as he walked out onto the Camp Nou turf for the last time.

So genuine was the goodbye for Xavi that he was moved to tears on more than one occasion.

Iker Casillas was too – but for an entirely different reason. No one from the club to accompany him at his last press conference. No fuss made of a player that had been at the club since nine years of age and stayed at the top of every age group for a quarter of a century.

Boos and whistles accompanying his final appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu.

And then a hastily arranged and cliched goodbye and photo opportunity with the president, because of the embarrassment caused to the club once the furore became public via Casillas’ mum.

Not really the way to treat one of the best custodians ever to play the game.

#3 Karim Benzema is arrested and charged

Benzema is currently under investigation over his alleged involvement in a blackmail scandal

Real’s old-school but modern centre-forward Karim Benzema rocked the club when he was arrested for, and charged with, conspiracy to blackmail his french teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

It resulted in his expulsion from the national team or at the very least if he plays then Valbuena doesn’t and vice versa. Hardly the ideal scenario.

Aside from the personal issue, it’s another problem for the club who have faced, and will continue to face, a PR gaffe of epic proportions. There is simply no hiding place and no positive spin able to be put on the story.

Injured during this season in any event, the charges hanging over the Frenchman clearly affected his form as could be seen by an insipid performance in El Clasico particularly.

Whilst it appears that Benitez is still being held at fault for all of Real’s ills at present, the manager can hardly be taken to task for something so far out of his control. He, in particular, needs to ensure a damage limitation exercise and that it doesn’t upset the general equilibrium in the team.

Easier said than done.

#4 El Clasico drubbing

President Perez’s apparent meddling in team selection is said to have cost Madrid dear in El Clasico

For Real’s president, board, manager, staff and supporters, there is nothing worse than seeing FC Barcelona taking all of the plaudits. A treble at the end of last season will have really rubbed Los Blancos’ noses in it.

The chance to avenge a number of recent defeats at the Santiago Bernabeu presented itself in November. Barca looked strong on paper, but Madrid’s line up didn’t look too shabby either.

That was until they took to the pitch.

Rarely can an El Clasico battle have been so one-sided. The Catalans scored four but could quite easily have doubled that tally and no one in the stadium or watching worldwide could’ve had any complaints whatsoever.

It’s as if the hosts just rolled over and wanted their bellies rubbed.

Waving white hankies is a sign of disapproval in Spain and the Bernabeu was full of them before the hour mark. Their players weren’t even trying and that is unforgivable.

#5 Booted out of the Copa Del Rey

Madrid suffered a major embarrassment as the team was booted out of the Copa del Rey

Just like Whitney Houston, Real saved the best till last. As if things couldn’t get any worse...

Although there is still months left to go in La Liga, Barcelona are playing so well at the moment that only a collapse of epic proportions would see them lose their grasp on La Liga.

That would leave Madrid to fight it out for the Champions League and the Copa Del Rey. Except the latter is now no longer an option to them.

Why?

Academy graduate Denis Cheryshev was sent on loan to Villarreal last season and picked up three yellow cards in the competition, the last one ironically for a foul on Gerard Pique in the semi-final.

That would mean the young Russian not being eligible for the next game, which was Real’s first Copa match of this season against Cadiz.

It escaped not only Cheryshev’s notice, but also every other employee with influence in that area at Real Madrid. Cheryshev played the first half and scored.

He was substituted one minute into the second half after the error was realised but it was too late.

Real Madrid were promptly disqualified from the Copa Del Rey.

An appropriate end to one of the worst years in Real’s illustrious history.