Lopetegui
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Real Madrid: Five issues for Lopetegui to address

Najam Arfeen·
Real Madrid
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Early signs are positive for Lopetegui and Real Madrid, but there is still plenty left to be done…

Real Madrid’s defeat to city rivals Atlético in the UEFA Super Cup has been masked by encouraging performances in the opening three rounds of La Liga. Lopetegui’s men are still adapting to the possession-based style of their new manager – but even at such an early stage of the season, there seems to be a clear emphasis on shifting from relying on individual brilliance to functioning as a cohesive unit.

Fans and players alike will welcome a fresh approach if it continues to deliver results, especially with the departure of talisman and club legend, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, tougher challenges await Los Blancos in the weeks to come – ones that will undoubtedly provide a more accurate reflection of the progress made thus far. Let’s delve deeper into the issues that need to be addressed by the gaffer, and how they’ve affected the team in recent seasons.

1. Replacing the goals

Many will argue that Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid occurred at the ideal time for both parties. An uncomfortable interview after last season’s Champions League final suggested that there had been irreparable damage to the Portuguese forward’s relationship with the club, and Juventus were quick to pounce. A fee in the region of €110 million for a 33 year-old was deemed suitable by Florentino Pérez, while Ronaldo got his chance to conquer another league – with the Italians likely to offer a more supportive environment for their new superstar.

However, even in a world where CR7’s influence on the team was limited to his goals, Lopetegui will need the firepower to come from elsewhere. Benzema’s uncharacteristically clinical start to the season has been coupled by Gareth Bale loosening the shackles of his forbidden romance with the medical room – and everyone will be hoping for more of the same. Mariano Diaz has also returned to the club after a successful stint at Lyon, with the Spanish-born striker expected to share some of the burden. Goal droughts for any of the aforementioned forwards could prove disastrous, but the opportunity to step out of Ronaldo’s shadow should be enough to hone their instincts.

2. Tactical structure

A side capable of winning three Champions League titles on the trot isn’t typically accused of tactical incompetence, but Zidane’s brilliance as a motivator was often negated by his inexperience on the drawing board. To the Frenchman’s credit, he was far more astute at adapting to difficult situations by the end of his tenure. His shrewd decision-making at the tail-end of last season was crucial to the team’s success, and more time at the helm could’ve further refined his managerial abilities.

In any case, Real Madrid’s shortcomings last season were enough to ruin their chances on the domestic front as early as January. It’s easy to forget that the club had pinned all their hopes on European success, and despite their remarkable triumph, are in dire need of a long-term solution. Lopetegui has all the tools necessary to spearhead the team through such a transition, and he has an abundance of players suited perfectly to his philosophy. More defined positional play will contribute heavily to reforming the team’s structure – while also allowing certain players more freedom to express themselves. Similarly, the defensive structure has had glaring deficiencies in recent seasons and the ex-Porto manager must do his best to plug the gaps.

3. Youth integration

Ever since the turn of the century, Real Madrid have been renowned for their willingness to splurge obscene amounts on Galácticos. For the past few seasons, however, this trend has all but disappeared in favour of a more youth-driven approach. In this transfer window alone, Los Blancos have invested in the likes of Vinícius Júnior, Álvaro Odriozola, and Andriy Lunin – while Fede Valverde and Sergio Reguilón have earned promotion to the first-team.

With so many explosive talents in their ranks, Lopetegui must work with his staff to develop individual plans for each player and utilise them efficiently over the course of the season. Moreover, the club’s squad already possesses Dani Ceballos, Marcos Llorente, and Jesús Vallejo – all of whom struggled for minutes last season due to the team’s collective failures. Each of them will be looking to display the kind of form that brought them to club in the first place, and their manager will be looking to facilitate the process with his existing knowledge of Spanish football.

4. Rotation strategy

If there’s one aspect of Zidane’s managerial stint that was unanimously appreciated, it was the insistence on rotating his squad to preserve energy for the latter stages of the season. In fact, the club’s fitness team, led by Antonio Pintus, was specifically instructed to formulate a plan which saw the players reach their physical peak after February. The team’s incredible depth in the 2016/17 season aided the cause, and the changes proved beneficial towards the end of 2017/18 as well.

The squad still boasts some strength on the bench, but the lack of game-changers is evident. Only with the emergence of previously under-utilised players can the club successfully manoeuvre through an extensive list of competitions. A large part of it ties into offering more chances to the young blood as previously discussed, and Lopetegui must ensure that every player is given the confidence to contribute on big occasions.

5. Redefining the midfield

A midfield trio of Kroos, Modrić, and Casemiro is arguably the greatest in the world – and they’ve won enough titles together to reinforce such a claim. Even so, their combined talents could be better utilised – and possibly supplemented by those on the side-lines. Lopetegui has to decide how each of these stalwarts fits into his system, with the Spaniard alternating between a double-pivot and a three-man midfield so far. The coach also has a special admiration for Isco, and will undoubtedly put more faith in the midfield maestro than his predecessor did.

Perhaps most importantly, a decision must be made on who anchors the midfield. Casemiro is best-suited to the role given his skill-set, and has excelled in that position before. However, he has developed a tendency to stray forward and leave his defensive teammates exposed – forcing his midfield partners to retreat and cover his tracks. A more reserved role for Casemiro will allow both Modric and Kroos to flourish going forward, while providing much-needed protection for the back-line. There is the possibility of limiting the Brazilian’s involvement in favour of a ball-playing midfield as well, but whether or not Lopetegui opts for such a drastic step remains to be seen.