Is There Hope For The Los Blancos?

Real Madrid was going through a transitional period.

The mercurial portuguese left for Turin after relishing the joy of another champions league win. Players like Cristiano can't be replaced, whether you want to admit it or not. Madrid's royals had many a star grace the grass of Santiago Bernabue throughout the years,but never quite one like CR7. So naturally the team had to adjust. Zidane left,Julen came,Julen left,Solari came,Solari left.Then zizou returned. The team still had its core intact from the glorious years of the three peat. Sergio Ramos still led from the front,bleeding white everytime he stepped on the field. Kroos-Casemiro-Modric blossomed as ever,though not really as dominant as before. Karim Benzema had to come out of the background,taking the center stage after being an unsung hero for so many years. Zizou replaced his attacking flamboyance with a stout defensive mentality,one which carried Real to another la liga trophy. Eden Hazard was a disappointment. His funloving attitude had taken its toll on his fitness,disrupting his capability to wreck havoc on any defence in the world. Vinicius and Rodrigo started to emerge,with flashes of brilliance coinciding with lack of consistency.Marco Asensio teared his ACL and has been a shell of himself. The team rallied under Zizou and reached the semi finals of yet another champions league,only to be outplayed by a deserving Chelsea team,who eventually went on to win it.

Fast forward to August 15th, 2021 and Los Merengues look different,very much so. Don Carlo has returned to take the helm from his student,promising big things. Whether he has the tools to achieve those,that is up for debate. Big Benz has been in stoic form,finishing ruthlessly and playing his patented "9 and a half" role to near perfection. Gareth Bale has returned from his loan spell to work with his favourite manager,but he isn't the same Welsh wizard who left Marc Bartra in another dimension. Eden Hazard is looking fitter and more agile,something we hope he can continue to be throughout the season. Sergio Ramos went to Paris,wrenching a hole deep into every madridista's guts. Rapha Varane followed soon after.The Nacho-Militao partnership at the heart of the back four had steadied the ship in the last season,but if they can emulate their predecessors' success is a whole different question. Fede Velverde was as brilliant as ever,dazzling while he and his compatriots thrashed Alaves 4-1. Luka Modric doesn’t seem to be slowing down,but the sharp claws of age catches everybody eventually. The management should use him carefully. Thibaut Courtois is a giant between the sticks.The Belgian has conquered his mental demons after his first season and has been one of the world's top three shot stoppers ever since.

Midfield has always been rich in depth during the last decade in Madrid. While Odegaard and Ceballos may leave in this transfer window,academy graduates such as Blanco will hopefully be up to the task. David Alaba is as versatile as they come,and his skills and experience will be of much need during this season.

In one of the most bizarre transfer spectacles in years,Leo Messi left barcelona to form essentially the avengers in Paris-Saint-Germain. Barcelona can not and will not find his replacement,but they can adjust,they have enough quality in the squad to do so. Diego Simeone's Atletico,the current winners will hope to repeat,with a strong and physical team.

The departure of Messi and Ramos will surely ensure less viewership numbers and less attraction to La Liga this season. But with Sevilla,Villareal,Real Sociedad;the spanish quality is always there. This will probably be one of the most competitive league campaign Spain has seen in years.

For Real Madrid,there are issues to address,gaps to fill,goals to achieve. The attack still is meagre and weak compared to other elites of Europe and the defence of Alaba-Nacho-Militao will be tested time and time again. But with Karim Benzema not missing a beat from the last season,Hazard with a lot to prove,and one last run for Gareth Bale,we can surely hope. The champions league trophy won't return this season to Madrid probably,but a domestic double is surely possible.

As Santiago Bernabue said, " The Real Madrid shirt is white.It can stain of mud,sweat and even of blood,but never of shame. "