Real Madrid needed a miracle to win the Spanish La Liga but a miracle wasn’t to come. Despite Cristiano Ronaldoa s heroics against Espanyol, a single goal from Lionel Messi sent Real Madrid packing to another trophy-less season in 3 years as Barcelona rejoice in victory. With the dust settling down at Santiago Bernabeu, questions are being asked and fingers are being raised. Who is to blame? Carlo Ancleotti, Iker Casillas and Gareth Bale are the three figures who find themselves in the red.
Madrid visited Espanyol hoping for Atletico to do the job on Barcelona. And though Ronaldo went on to score a hattrick, Messia s goal ensured that Barcelona retained their 4 point lead over the Galacticos, sealing the Spanish La Liga trophy for Luis Enrique. It is astonishing to note that a season that saw Real Madrid etch a record breaking 22 game winning streak ended on a barren note. Real Madrid is not a club to take failure in its stride and changes are due at the club. With fingers being raised, who is really to blame for this disaster? While that discussion is likely to last all summer, it is more important to discuss the people who are likely to take the rap for this season.
Carlo Ancelotti
The man who seemed to be the hero at Real Madrid last season is suddenly being blamed for its disastrous season. In all fairness, the manager must take responisibility for Real Madrida s failure to win any trophies this season. His lack of player rotations coupled with his lack of faith on his bench took a toll on the squad, making the team redundant when faced with a stiff challenge. Having said that, Carlo Ancelotti is definitely the right man to lead the team next season. Composed and intelligent, Ancelottia s Real Madrid is a treat to watch and has the ability to become a a forcea if supplemented with the right summer acquisitions this summer.
However, Real Madrid is not one to make sound decisions when it comes to their transfer policy and managerial changes. Florentino Perez is likely to make a statement and it will not be surprising to see Ancelotti leave the club over the summer.
Iker Casillas
Heading for the Door?
Reports suggest that Casillas is likely to bid farewell to Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid look to finish their season on a high against Getafe. With David De Gea inching closer to signing a deal with Madrid, Casillas is likely to be on his way out this summer with the club convinced that its future lies in harmony with the De Gea.
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In all fairness, while Casillas cannot be singled out for Real Madrida s failure, his inability to have a commanding position in front of the goal has cost the club this season. Prone to conceding a soft goalsa , as was the case against Juventus that sent Madrid reeling out of the Champions League, Casillas is in the a reda at Real Madrid. But where is he heading, if at all, he leaves.
Gareth Bale
What Next for the Welshman?
Booed and whistled at, Gareth Bale, much like Carlo Ancelotti, has suffered a terrible fall from grace in his second season with Real Madrid. The man who scored the winning goals in the Copa del Rey finals and the Champions League finals last season has been targeted by the media and the fans alike for his lack of prowess on the pitch.
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Gareth Bale has also been seriously linked with a move back to familiar territory- the English Premier League. Manchester United are reportedly interested in purchasing the winger and are ready to break the bank to land his services. The most expensive player in the world of Football (barring Neymara s murky transfer details), Bale is however unlikely to leave Real Madrid this summer. Unless Madrid acquire the services of a world-class winger, the likes of which are rarely around.
Definitely in the a reda , Bale is likely to survive the summer. But the Welshman will have to definitely pull up his socks in the coming campaign if he is to follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and establish himself as one of the greats at Real Madrid.
