The gamble backfired horribly, however, with Madrid completely lacking in structure and finding themselves outplayed by Barca who ran riot with Luis Suarez scoring a brace and further goals added by Neymar and Andres Iniesta. “It will go down in history as a memorable game for the Blaugranes”.
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“The business plan is brilliant – they’re very, very rich. The football plan is very poor, and under Florentino Perez they have won one league in seven years, which suggests that his idea of putting big names on the pitch does not work”. We leave here with a very high morale.
When Lionel Messi injured his knee it understandably set off alarm bells at Barcelona but the Spanish and European champions have coped comfortably with his two-month absence thanks to Neymar and Luis Suarez. Please note that comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language and will be removed accordingly.
The result takes them six points ahead of Madrid at the top of the league.
“I have not seen Madrid surrendering. We gave the ball away and that hurts you”, he said, defending his decision to pick Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.
“We need to improve positioning in the opposite half, we need to improve taking chances, we need to improve at dropping back, we need to stop the opposition getting so many corners. We didn’t play as a team, and if you’re not compact against Barcelona, then this happens”.
“We didn’t expect to win 4-0”, he said. What we have to do now is bounce back as quickly as possible.
Karim Benzema started for Madrid for the first time since he was charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act in his native France in a case involving a sex tape featuring French worldwide teammate Mathieu Valbuena. Marcelo’s chance at the beginning of the second half was a pivotal moment.
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“It will be a different type of game on Tuesday and we are going to have to step up a level”. Current manager Rafael Benitez has been constantly criticized for his defensive tactics as Real Madrid coach, with the rumour mill even predicting that the Spaniard would lose his job should Madrid slump to a defeat against Barca. “What I’m concerned about is restoring the team’s morale quickly”, said Benitez, who insisted his side had started the game well.
