OFFENCE is the trouble!
Until today, whenever the defence of
Real Madrid-Champ has produced a top-class performance- and there have
been many such occasions- the forwards have almost ALWAYS produced the
minimum requirement for the win. On match-day 4, when RMC hosted bottom
of the table Leeds United, a forward-line that looks pretty formidable-
Alfredo Di Stefano, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gonzaléz Raúl could not bag
a SINGLE goal!
0-0 it ended, and fans didn't refrain from showing their anger at the team and specifically manager Sujith Krishnan. Only one of the 3 matches at home has been won by Real and the only away game was lost. The next match is ALSO at home against Bad Boys, and fans will NOT want to see ANYTHING other than a win, even if it IS Bad Boys who are visiting! Player training has been re-intensified, but a disheartening suspension for Maurice McDonald will mean the 29 year old midfield maestro will miss the CRUCIAL clash!
Still, according to Krishnan, RMC will have the advantage over Bad Boys in a week's time- "Maurice will DEFINITELY be missed. But he is not irreplaceable! We will find suitable players to fill in, and I am confident of a very good performance and also a result."
Asked if Sergio Ramòs will be fit enough to face last season's runners-up, Krishnan said- "As of now, he LOOKS to be recovering well and we will only know for sure a day or two before the match. If fully fit, Sergio will start. But even if he ISN'T, we have Fabio(Cannavaro), Fernando(Hierro) and Pepé who can be used just as well. Really, my worries do not lie in defence at the moment. It lies in offence... I expected loads of chances and more than 1 goal against Leeds. Instead, at HOME, we had only two free-kick opportunities, and both were wasted... It is worrying. Hopefully, the latest training session will work. In fact, I am confident it WILL work. That's why I said I expect a good result..."
McDonald's absence MIGHT me a blessing in disguise for the inclusion of others who have had little match experience and playing time this season. But a home loss will be DREADFUL for the two-time champions...
13-09-2008 23:45
0-0 it ended, and fans didn't refrain from showing their anger at the team and specifically manager Sujith Krishnan. Only one of the 3 matches at home has been won by Real and the only away game was lost. The next match is ALSO at home against Bad Boys, and fans will NOT want to see ANYTHING other than a win, even if it IS Bad Boys who are visiting! Player training has been re-intensified, but a disheartening suspension for Maurice McDonald will mean the 29 year old midfield maestro will miss the CRUCIAL clash!
Still, according to Krishnan, RMC will have the advantage over Bad Boys in a week's time- "Maurice will DEFINITELY be missed. But he is not irreplaceable! We will find suitable players to fill in, and I am confident of a very good performance and also a result."
Asked if Sergio Ramòs will be fit enough to face last season's runners-up, Krishnan said- "As of now, he LOOKS to be recovering well and we will only know for sure a day or two before the match. If fully fit, Sergio will start. But even if he ISN'T, we have Fabio(Cannavaro), Fernando(Hierro) and Pepé who can be used just as well. Really, my worries do not lie in defence at the moment. It lies in offence... I expected loads of chances and more than 1 goal against Leeds. Instead, at HOME, we had only two free-kick opportunities, and both were wasted... It is worrying. Hopefully, the latest training session will work. In fact, I am confident it WILL work. That's why I said I expect a good result..."
McDonald's absence MIGHT me a blessing in disguise for the inclusion of others who have had little match experience and playing time this season. But a home loss will be DREADFUL for the two-time champions...
13-09-2008 23:45
