Authored by Harry Gillies.
“What was your take on the red card decision?”
The Spanish media eagerly posed the question to Bayern’s manager, every key player, but Vincent Kompany just smiled and replied, “If we analyze the game, there are other incidents we could discuss too.”
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His remarks, however, are unlikely to reach the journalists. Instead, the Spanish press continues to scrutinize referee Slavko Vincic for giving Eduardo Camavinga a second yellow card, thereby gifting Bayern a 4-3 victory over Real Madrid. As the outrage eventually fades and Real Madrid’s season concludes without trophies, the Madrid press will shift their critiques towards the club itself.
Credit must be given to Bayern, who were genuinely superior over both matches. With players like Harry Kane showcasing exceptional forward play, alongside the vibrant contributions from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise, Bayern has the most polished and formidable attacking lineup in Europe. Each member of this Bavarian squad understands their role and responsibilities. In contrast, Real Madrid’s ensemble feels disjointed, filled with star players who fail to gel and missing the creative brilliance once provided by Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the midfield.
Los Blancos still possess remarkable individual talents and, driven by the essence of their past European comebacks, took the lead three times. Arda Guler seemed poised to be the hero after scoring twice in the first half. However, his night took a catastrophic turn when he received a red card for arguing with the referee. He wasn’t alone in this behavior; many of the Galacticos surrounded Vincic, expressing their discontent—some quite aggressively. Real Madrid could have exited with some dignity, but instead opted for disgrace in their defeat.
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Amidst this chaos, a few maintained their composure. Kylian Mbappe did not pursue the officials, choosing instead to congratulate Bayern’s players and acknowledge the traveling fans. Yet as he walked solemnly across the pitch, the French star surely reflected on the bitter irony of his time at Real Madrid thus far. Despite two seasons of extraordinary performances, he has yet to secure any major titles, while his previous team, Paris Saint-Germain—the current European champions—approaches a semi-final showdown with Bayern. Continuous setbacks were not what the young man from Bondy envisioned while dreaming with Cristiano Ronaldo posters plastered on his bedroom walls.
However, if he reflected on his journey compared to his Portuguese idol, he’d surely find hope instead of despair. It took Ronaldo five seasons to claim his first European Cup with Real Madrid, and he subsequently won three more.
With Barcelona poised to claim the league title, Real Madrid will face an awkward distinction of experiencing two consecutive seasons without winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, or the Champions League for the first time in 16 years. In a challenging campaign, there are always players who rise to the occasion, like Fede Valverde, who has played with unwavering determination, showcasing exactly why he dons the captain’s armband. The once slender youth from Penarol, who joined Castilla in 2016, has evolved into an exemplary Real Madrid player. For South American talents like Endrick Felipe and Franco Mastantuono, Valverde represents a beacon of hope amidst stalled careers in the Spanish capital.
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The emergence of academy stars provides fans a glimmer of optimism during these turbulent times. Striker Gonzalo Garcia dazzled at the Club World Cup and has shown glimpses of that potential this season. Thiago Pitarch impressed against Manchester City, but in Munich, the midfielder only saw three minutes, while Garcia remained sidelined. Club legends Raul Gonzalez and Iker Casillas rose through the academy to lead the Galacticos, but perhaps that vision of Real Madrid belongs to a bygone era.
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And we cannot overlook the two individuals who can no longer shoulder the blame, nor would it be just to do so. Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa may have always been seen as expendable in the eyes of President Florentino Perez, their youth and nationality rarely working in their favor. It’s been 20 years since a Spanish manager last lifted a trophy for Los Blancos—Vicente del Bosque with La Liga glory.
It didn’t matter that Alonso was midway through his first season, still having them contend for three major trophies. Losing narrowly to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup was a fatal error from which he could not recover. Perez’s infamous coldness is well-known, evidenced by Alonso’s reputation suffering minimal impact post-sacking.
As for Arbeloa, his impending return to Castilla will likely mark his exit from the spotlight, despite once being portrayed as the interim coach. Few will recall how he managed egos, garnered players’ support, and facilitated a commendable run in March, only to see it crumble in the closing games. The affable coach clearly took the role out of a deep love for the club, aware he could be discarded if unsuccessful, yet still unrecognized—yet another member of the club unable to evade judgment.
Andoni Iraola is set to be available this summer, and it’s evident that this promising young Spanish manager would be wise to steer clear of La Casa Blanca. Real Madrid most likely will revert back to a familiar ‘veteran manager’ choice, with Didier Deschamps and Massimiliano Allegri both rumored as potential candidates.
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As for the remainder of this season? Los Blancos may soon have to form a guard of honour for Barcelona before El Clasico on May 10th, which is something they declined to do post-Super Cup Final. With no further objectives in sight, a sense of humility may be necessary—this could be the virtue this squad ought to embrace to reclaim glory at the Bernabeu.