Kylian Mbappé: Unbelievable pressure for an unbelievable player.

By: PGS | June 4, 2024 11:47 am
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Kylian Mbappé is finally a Real Madrid player. Let me say that one more time. Kylian Mbappé is finally a Real Madrid player. After what may be the longest saga ever, stretching back to 2017 from his Monaco days, Kylian Mbappé has finally officially joined the greatest club in the world. Arguably the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappé has joined the club of his dreams, and forms one of the scariest super teams the sport has ever seen. Naturally, the pressure on him to deliver will be high, but given the context of Real Madrid’s past 3 years, the pressure is now greater than ever before.

In 2021, when Mbappé was closer than ever before to Real Madrid, the situation for the club was completely different from what it is now. Back then, the club was still reeling from the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. The club had just lost LaLiga and crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Chelsea. The last Champions League title came in 2018, when Ronaldo was still at the club. Zidane had just announced his decision to leave the club, and the attack looked to be in dire condition. Benzema was the best striker in the world, but his supporting cast was not what it should have been. Viní and Rodrygo were still just talents for the future, with severe output and consistency issues. Hazard was a shell of himself and couldn’t stay fit to save his life, while Bale was no longer a starting level attacker, not even close. Mbappé was seen as the savior, the player to come in and fill the Ronaldo shaped hole in the club. Fast forward 3 years, and the situation couldn’t be any more different. In the past 3 years, Real Madrid have won the league and Champions League double twice, a feat they only managed once in their last 7 Champions League wins before 2022. Karim Benzema won a Ballon d’Or and left, and now, Vinícius Jr is the frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or. If he doesn’t win, then second in line is his (and now Mbappé’s) teammate, Jude Bellingham. The club is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best team in the world. Viní and Rodrygo are both bonafide superstars, and the team has won 2 Champions League titles without Mbappé.

Now, as Mbappé finally comes, he does not come as a savior. He does not come as a player who was absolutely necessary to take the team to the top of the footballing world, because the team is already there. He doesn’t come like Ronaldo did, to make the team competitive again and challenge one of the greatest sides of all time in Pep’s Barcelona. Right now, Real Madrid are the team in football. There is no all-time great team to compete with, there are no humiliations to take revenge for. Unlike when Ronaldo arrived, there is no team on the level of Pep’s Barcelona, and no player like Messi. Unlike during the Bale, Benzema and Cristiano era, there is no rival like the Messi, Suarez, Neymar Barcelona. Manchester City are the only side that are seen as genuine challengers, and even they were vanquished twice in the last 3 years. Real Madrid are the kings of Europe, and there are no clear challengers anymore. Mbappé comes not to take the team to the top, but to take the team to heights never seen before. He is not needed to win the Champions League; the team has managed that without him. He comes to help the team retain it. He comes to help the team retain the double, then retain it again, and again, and again. He comes to help Madrid finally capture the elusive treble, and to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo and retain the Champions League again. And, he has no excuses. Unlike when Ronaldo joined, the team is no longer in a rebuild. He is joining a super young core of players who have won 2 Champions Leagues and 2 LaLigas in the last 3 years. The present and future belongs to Real Madrid, and the pressure on Mbappé, who will be the center-piece for this team, will be unbelievable.

On twitter, a frequent comparison being made is with Kevin Durant’s decision to join the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in 2016. Yet, even this comparison is not accurate. At least the Warriors lost in 2016, and they added Kevin Durant to help them challenge Lebron James. Real Madrid won, and won in stunning fashion. Mbappé is joining a winning side, and there is no Lebron-esque figure in football right now that he has to help the team defeat. Another comparison can be Pep joining the treble winning Bayern side. However, even that comparison has its flaws. Pep’s Bayern still had to challenge the BBC Real Madrid side and MSN Barcelona. And, just like Pep was seen to have failed by failing to emulate the treble, even the slightest difference from last season, and Mbappé will be seen to have failed. The expectations for him are to lead the team not to just a league title, or just the UCL, or just the double, but to win everything, all 6 trophies that Real Madrid are competing in, and then repeat it. The pressure is unbelievable.

However, Mbappé too, is unbelievable. The first teenager to score in the World Cup final since Pele. The first player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final since Pele. The joint 5th highest scorer in World Cup history with 12 goals, alongside Pele. A World Cup winner, a runner-up another time, and a World Cup Golden Boot winner. 7-time Ligue-1 champion, 4-time Coupe de France winner, 3 Trophee des Champions and 1 Nations League title. PSG’s all-time top scorer, 6-time Ligue 1 top scorer, 5-time Ligue 1 Player of the Year, 3-time Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, Golden Boy award winner, joint 9th all-time top scorer in the UCL. All before the age of 26. Kylian Mbappé is a truly player. Had he made smarter career decisions, his resumé would most likely include a couple of Champions League titles and Ballon d’Or’s as well. In the eyes of many, Kylian Mbappé is the best player in the world. The pressure on him is unreal, but there is no player better suited to meet such lofty expectations. His skill, his goalscoring instinct, his speed, finishing ability, combined with the level of teammates he will have at Madrid, put him in the perfect position to meet these expectations. A player who produced 484 G/A in 445 games at PSG, Mbappé has everything needed on an individual and team basis to help make this Real Madrid side the most dominant football team in history.

 

Mbappé is finally here, and while some fans may still hold grudges over his past decisions, it is time for forgive him and let him write his story as a Real Madrid player. Regardless of what may have happened till now, Mbappé is still a truly generational player, and having a player like him is nothing but good. Real Madrid now have the chance to have the most dominant dynasty in football history, a team that dominates both Spain and Europe like none before them, and Mbappé will be the focal point of this team. A tumultuous relationship with the team’s fans is the last thing he needs. The pressure on his shoulders is already unbelievable, but the talent at his feet is too, and for the team’s success and his, the full support of the fanbase is needed. An all-time great player facing all-time great expectations, a new era has started. A new era for him, for the team, and for the sport as a whole. Whether these expectations are met, only time will tell, but there is no player, and no team, better suited to make history like this.

It’s still early, but the response must come fast

By: Ardit Lipa | October 27, 2024 9:30 am
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Real Madrid suffered a tough defeat in the biggest match of the season so far – falling 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu against the biggest rivals, Barcelona.

The defeat – not only did stop Real Madrid from going 43 games unbeaten in La Liga, but also gave a reality check to everyone in the team & outside of it, of where the team really stands, showcasing perfectly every flaw that this star studded team has.

Instead of focusing on the negatives that are quite obvious, we will try to find the positives – a task that realistically, seems very difficult.

But are there any positives to take from last night? From the game, no. Mentally, yes.

Even though the difference at the top is now 6 points for Barcelona, the league is still with 27 games ahead & the chances for response are big. But, instead of focusing on the rival – Real Madrid should focus on themselves & try to make things better.

Since the season has started, the performances have been average at best – and even the wins, have not been very convincing, often secured by a goal difference and in the last minutes of the game.

It’s not a matter of quality – because if you take a look at the individuals – it is the best team in the world, but it’s matter of performance and attitude & the attitude has clearly been missing by the team’s main stars that so far, have not shown their best version, none of them.

Aside of that – the coach, has isolated some players totally, not giving them the chance to prove themselves, such as Arda Güler & Endrick, who in the limited minutes have shown that they can make a difference, and you can expect them to atleast be trusted when you’re attacking and chasing a 2-0 result.

Generally, a lot of things should be improved – like performance, attitude and dividing the minutes to different players – and if you’ve been a fan of Real Madrid for too long, you know that the team always responds, and it should not be expected different this time. BUT, this doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be overreaction – because the signs are really worrying, and the response – unlike other times, MUST be immediate.

The positive, is that it’s only October & there are almost 50 matches in all competitions left to play, so the margin for improvement is really, really big.

Now, it’s time to put all the questions on the table and find the answers to all of them – one by one.

The trust is big, as always. As Toni Kroos said – at the end we are Real Madrid.

Neymar backs Vinícius Jr. for Ballon d’Or after an impressive season

By: TheMadridZone | October 14, 2024 12:21 pm
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Neymar Jr. has publicly voiced his support for Vinícius Jr. to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. In an emotional moment, Neymar stated, “I am supporting Vini Jr. to win the Ballon d’Or. He had a great season and no one deserves it more.”

Vinícius Jr., who played a pivotal role for both Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team, has been in outstanding form throughout the season. His performances have captured global attention, making him one of the frontrunners for the award, and with Neymar’s backing, his candidacy grows even stronger.

Real Madrid target Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jonathan Tah to bolster defense amid injury crisis

By: TheMadridZone | 12:19 pm
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Real Madrid are targeting Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah to strengthen their defense in light of recent injuries. Manager Carlo Ancelotti has informed the club that reinforcements are crucial to maintaining their competitive edge this season.

Alexander-Arnold’s playmaking ability and defensive versatility have made him a vital asset for Liverpool, while Tah’s strength and reliability in the Bundesliga have been key to Bayer Leverkusen’s success. With both players on Real Madrid’s radar, the Spanish giants are looking to bolster their squad depth as they face a challenging season ahead.

Trent Alexander-Arnold or Alphonso Davies, who does Real Madrid need more?

By: PGS | August 2, 2024 6:54 am
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Real Madrid are reportedly interested in two of the world’s best fullbacks: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies, and the club are aiming to sign them for free in 2025, when their respective contracts end with their clubs. In an ideal scenario, the club will be able to sign both, as both are phenomenal talents that would improve the club. However, a scenario could arise in which the club would be forced to choose between one or the other. The club’s modus operandi when signing players in recent years has been to encourage their targets not to renew, sign them for free to save up on transfer fees, and offer them high wages. This method was used to first sign David Alaba, and Antonio Rüdiger and Kylian Mbappé have also been signed with the same method. The club is now aiming to do the same with Trent and Davies, and the club could be in a situation in which they will have to decide which way to pour more resources. Both are elite talents around their prime, and both will demand high wages. So, if the club is in a position to choose only one, the question arises; who does Real Madrid need more?

The answer, in the opinion of the author, is Trent Alexander-Arnold.

While Trent and Davies are both known to be exceptional offensive talents, their styles of play are very different. Davies is a monster in transition, a super quick player who originally started as a winger and later transitioned into a fullback. He is a player who loves to take players on, something that is reflected in his monstrous 3.1 take-ons completed p90 (comparable to prime Marcelo numbers). In a footrace, there are very few players in the world who can keep up with the Canadian, and his main way of attacking comes from beating his man and creating chaos with his dribbling and speed.

Trent on the other hand, is not the athlete Davies is, but is a passing wizard. Slower, and a worse dribbler than Davies (only 1.2 take-ons p90), Trent’s main strength is his final ball. Attempting 7.1 crosses p90 and completing 2.3, compared to 1.4 attempts with 0.5 completed for Davies, their differences are clear to see. Trent is seen as one of the best passers and crossers in the world, and is also an elite set-piece taker. His passing range and technique put midfielders to shame, and his passing in transition is some of the best in the world.

So, why do Real Madrid need Trent more than they do Davies? The answer is the stylistic profiles of both Trent, and the players at hand at Real Madrid. Trent Alexander-Arnold can be seen as almost being tailor-made to fit this current Real Madrid side. A truly devastating passer in transition, a player who completes 30 forward passes a game, 1 through ball and 6.2 long balls, Trent is a one-man transition weapon. For comparison, Toni Kroos completed 9.8 long-balls a game last season. While Trent’s long passing is not Kroos’, with Kroos’ departure, having someone of Trent’s quality will go a long way in helping fill that void. While Davies also has his offensive talents, the gap between him and Trent in these departments is immense. Davies completes 16 forward passes p90, only 0.4 long balls and 0.2 through-balls. Davies’ skills in transition are his ball-carrying and speed, while Trent’s are his precision passing and ability to spread the play immediately.

Analyzing these different skills in the context of Real Madrid, it becomes clear that Trent’s skillset is a better fit. Firstly, there is the task of replacing Kroos’ passing. While no player in football can do that, Trent’s ability to switch play, find targets on the run with pinpoint precision, and set-off attacks in transition will go a long way in helping mitigate some of the effects of Kroos’ departure. Then, you have to look at the attackers that will be starting for Madrid. Vinícius Jr., Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo are as fast an attack as you will ever see. All three are incredibly fast and are truly devastating in transition. Imagine a counter-attack with the three on the break, and Trent finding them with his long-passing. An attack like that would truly be unstoppable.

Furthermore, Trent would also be an incredible outlet option on the right. All three aforementioned players and Jude Bellingham naturally gravitate towards the left. Naturally, there will be an overload there that will force opposition defenses to crowd that area, leaving the right open, something we saw every game during the threepeat era. A quick switch to an open Trent who will have ample space to cross or shoot would be a truly elite weapon in Real Madrid’s locker. Jude would also be an elite crossing target, but Trent’s crossing is so good that even without tall targets in the box, he has managed a remarkable number of assists for Liverpool. None of Salah, Mane and Firmino were truly great aerial targets, but Trent found them consistently regardless, and the same can be expected with his Real Madrid targets. With this skillset, Trent is also a much better creator than Davies, creating 2.7 chances p90, compared to 1.6 for the Canadian. Trent also helps mitigate the effects of losing a set-piece taker, as Trent has been the primary corner and free-kick taker for Liverpool, and has done an exceptional job so far.

These stylistic profiles are also why Davies is not as big of a need as Trent is. What he excels at, Vinícius, Mbappé and Rodrygo also excel at. Being a left-back, Davies would also play in the flank that these three like to play-in, and while having an elite attacking fullback on that side would be a plus point, not having him would not be a problem either. The right side on the other hand, is relatively lacking in attacking talent, mainly with the starting XI. All of Madrid’s natural right-sided attackers are expected to come off the bench, with Brahim, Endrick and Arda, the teams three left footed attackers, will not be bonafide starters. As a result, the main threat on the right will come from Fede Valverde’s runs. Right now, Carvajal provides width and is elite at it, but signing Trent adds another, truly world class, weapon on the right, and sets-up a long-term replacement for Carvajal as well.

On the defensive side of things, an equally important part of their game, both Trent and Davies have come under criticism. Seen as attacking fullbacks with average defensive games, Trent and Davies both have deficiencies on their part. Trent is infamous for his propensity to leave the back-post unguarded and lose his marker, while Davies is often criticized for his lack of positional discipline. Both are not elite defenders, but are not bad either. Statistically, they produce similar defensive numbers, with Davies completing slightly more tackles p90 (2.1 vs 1.7), while Trent has very slight leads in interceptions (1.3 vs 1.2) and clearances (1.8 vs 1.7). Yet, despite their defensive weaknesses, Madrid fans do not need to be concerned. Defending is far more reliant on the team’s structure than individual talent, and with a midfield of Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Jude and Fede in front of them, they will have more than enough cover to go on their marauding runs.

Age is also a factor. Dani Carvajal may have had the season of his career last season, but he will be 33 by the time the 2025 summer rolls around, and Lucas will have reached 34. Ferland Mendy on the other hand, will have just turned 30, and Fran Garcia will be reaching his 25th birthday. Taking into account this aspect as well, Trent is the better, more needed option for the team next summer.

As said before, the ideal scenario would be signing both, but if the club was to be faced with the decision, then Trent should be the club’s choice.

Arda Güler cuts his vacation short

By: Ardit Lipa | July 26, 2024 12:01 pm
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Arda Güler has cut his vacation short to return training for the new season.

Real Madrid’s 19-year old gem had a really positive EURO 2024 with Türkiye, exceeding everyone’s expectations while reaching the quarterfinals & going out just in the quarterfinals.

Going that far in the tournament, Arda Güler was scheduled to have a longer vacation, but the Turkish star has decided to cut them short & will return to Madrid tomorrow, where he will start training with the team and travel to USA on Sunday for the preseason tour.

Arda spent his vacation in Bodrum in Türkiye & Maldvies, where he was seen constantly individually training – preparing for the new season.

Güler had a first season full of unlucky injuries, but in the limited minutes he had at the end of the season – he scored 6 goals, impressing everyone & also was fantastic in EURO 2024, letting it be known that he can have a much bigger role in 2024/25.

The Turkish star wants to start strongly in preseason, to slowly gain a place for himself & get more minutes. With other players coming later to preseason, Arda Güler will be a starter in the preseason games vs Milan (August 1st), Barcelona (August 4th) & Chelsea (August 7th).

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