Real Madrid Loses Again: When Will Perez Wake Up?

Ever since Satriano gave Getafe the lead in the 39th minute of the Madrid derby against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, the jeers have not stopped, persisting long after the final whistle.

It took nearly two decades since 2008, when the team known as the Azulones, led by Bernd Schuster, took all three points from the Galacticos. Since then, they had only lost, until Jose Bordalas's team finally broke that losing streak.

The Collapse of Real

Previously, Real was expected, and even perceived, to finish the season more strongly, with at least a certain level of competitiveness. But this time, the team's stars collapsed with a second consecutive league defeat, falling 4 points behind Barcelona. The Bernabeu emptied out in a collective surrender, culminating in chants of "Florentino, resign".

For the second time this season, the club's president was "put on trial." The Madridistas have given up, frustrated by a team lacking energy and ideas, where only Vinicius's efforts provided a glimmer of hope. They seem to be losing the La Liga title in early March, after being eliminated in the first round of the Copa del Rey and defeated by their arch-rivals from Catalonia in the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The Galacticos played without a plan, rendered harmless by Getafe's resilience and discipline. The team relied on moments of brilliance from players like Vinicius or Arda Guler. The defense was shaky, the attack unable to surprise the opponent's organized setup.

Coach Alvaro Arbeloa tried to change the game's rhythm by fielding new signing Thiago Pitarch in the starting lineup, alongside the presence of Gonzalo Garcia in attack. This seemed logical in theory, given the creative intensity the match required. The academy graduates were expected to bring pace to the play and exploit any mistakes from Getafe.

Instead, Real became bogged down by Bordalas's meticulous defensive tactics. He set up his team in a determined, cohesive 5-4-1 formation, well aware of Real's attacking limitations without Mbappe and with Vinicius too isolated.

The Brazilian forward tried to fill the void left by his teammates, but his talent and perseverance were limited by a stagnant, stuck, and lifeless collective. Throughout the match, Real seemed to confuse running a lot with constructing a purposeful style of play.

The stars could not assert their individual or collective value against a formidable Getafe. Arbeloa lost control of the match to his colleague Bordalas, and precisely, the club's footballing structure was completely dismantled by the 43-year-old coach.

Perez's Mess

The Galacticos were expected to bounce back following Barcelona's unexpected slump, but instead suffered another humiliating defeat with another poor performance, exacerbating the issues plaguing them all season: a lack of long-term vision, tactical imbalance, oversized egos, and the absence of a leader to guide the team. That is the reason for the collapse.

They could do nothing right, and half of the La Liga title has slipped from the hands of the Bernabeu's home team. The issue is to find the root cause rather than address the symptoms. Arbeloa's arrival in the hot seat did not shift the balance of power. It was merely political and reflected President Perez's direction.

He responded positively to Vinicius's discontent by dismissing Xabi Alonso, rather than disciplining his star. This indulgence is endless, dating back to when the 79-year-old president and the entire team skipped the 2024 Ballon d'Or Gala.

The number 7 was placed above the collective, which is truly surprising, even when comparing him to the club's historic number one star, Ronaldo. Vinicius is not a leader; on the contrary, he is a prominent destabilizing factor with on-field controversies, whether as a victim of racism or an instigator of it.

Perez has indulged an entire system, so anyone replacing Xabi is merely dealing with the consequences. But the club and its fans are the ultimate victims of all his decisions.