Attacking midfielder Isco has revealed the reasons behind Real Madrida s recent dip in form but has also warned that the team will recover. After two poor performances that saw them drop points at Villareal and then again at Athletic Bilbao, the club have lost the lead in the La Liga title race with fierce rivals Barcelona leapfrogging them.
Isco, who started both those games, admitted that the players fail to understand the sudden slump in form and also revealed the mood inside the Madrid dressing room.
“We leave here with a bad feeling in our stomachs because this is now two straight games without a win and that is a real shame,” the Spain international told reporters.
“Lately we have been lacking a bit of freshness up front and that is not normal for Real Madrid, but it is a matter of phases.
“Things aren’t going that well now but that’s certain to change.
“The team is physically well, so that’s not an excuse. Things are a little bad now but this happens from time to time.
“The league is difficult but it is long and we’ll go to Camp Nou in a couple of weeks with all the enthusiasm in the world. It is a decisive match.
“Teams go up and down and changing the situation depends on the players. Our duty is to go back to the way we were playing before.”
Manager Carlo Ancelotti echoed Iscoa s thoughts as he slammed the front three for playing too a individuallya .
a The [BBC] did not play a good game, but it is not a mistake from those three,” Ancelotti said. “We are all responsible in attack, of doing our own work.
We played too much as individuals, looking to resolve things alone, when you need to play more quickly, and with less touches. What we are doing is confusing. We play slowly and without moving the ball well, so the forwards do not have spaces. It is a problem of the time between the pass and the run.a
Next up, Los Blancos take on Schalke in the Champions League on Tuesday. Madrid take a 2-0 lead back to the Bernabeu and are in complete control of the tie.
In the league, the 10-time European Champions will be looking to get things back on track when they take on Levante, who are 17th in the La Liga table and fighting to stay in the league, at home. March 22 is when Barcelona host Madrid in what could, potentially, be a title deciding game.