Former Real Madrid manager exposes key weakness that hurt the club this season

Former Real Madrid manager exposes key weakness that hurt the club this season

When Fabio Capello speaks about Real Madrid, people tend to listen, and this time, his assessment was as direct as it gets.

Appearing at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, the former Real Madrid boss was inevitably asked about the club’s current struggles.

With results falling below expectations and performances lacking consistency, Capello didn’t try to soften the situation.

Fabio Capello’s reflection

Reflecting on the pressure that comes with managing or playing for Madrid, he pointed out the reality of the club’s standards, saying,

“It’s a difficult time, because at Madrid, when you’re not winning, you struggle,” he began.

He continued: “It’s a team that doesn’t have the midfield it used to have.

“They have very good forwards, but the midfield they had before, with the quality it possessed, was spectacular.”

What is lacking at Real Madrid?

For years, Real Madrid’s dominance was built around control in midfield, a unit that dictated games, managed tempo, and provided balance.

Fabio Capello has highlighted Real Madrid’s weakness. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

Now, according to Capello, that foundation is no longer as strong.

Notably, he didn’t stop there. Expanding on what the club currently lacks, Capello made it clear that replacing that level of quality is easier said than done.

Drawing comparisons with other elite teams, he explained,