EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It’s incredibly straightforward to generate buzz around a contest between the two most recent UEFA Champions League victors, to the extent that the supplemental aspects of the affair, such as an enthusiastic audience and a vast quantity of pyrotechnics for a midday occurrence on a weekday, almost validate the importance. The spectacle was short-lived, however, as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 4-0 victory against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semifinals on Wednesday in one of the most uneven matchups of the tournament.
Luis Enrique‘s squad depleted the vitality of MetLife Stadium, which was filled with supporters of Madrid, with Fabian Ruiz’s initial goal at the sixth minute. Ousmane Dembele contributed another at the ninth minute, and Ruiz achieved his second at the 24th minute. There was some element of surprise in PSG’s swiftness, but by the time the initial half’s conclusion was greeted by jeers from the Madrid faithful, the skewed outcome was not unexpected. When Enrique characterized PSG and Madrid as teams in “markedly contrasting conditions” on Tuesday, he might not have anticipated such a one-sided victory, but it was not difficult to conceive. PSG has a pattern of overwhelming competitors and dominating them persistently, demonstrated by their 5-0 triumph over Inter in the Champions League final on May 31. This meant that a visibly flawed Madrid, truthfully, had little opportunity.
There are unfamiliar names in the roster for Los Blancos, notably manager Xabi Alonso and their Club World Cup rising talent Gonzalo Garcia, but the fundamental concerns persist. While PSG embodies steadiness, consistently conquering giants like Inter and Madrid and smaller teams like Inter Miami with equivalent efficiency, Los Blancos display inconsistency. The challenge of achieving stability has consistently plagued them this season, resulting in their inaugural season without a trophy in four years and intensifying their underlying issues.
“They are performing [at] a very high standard, and we must recognize this,” Alonso stated after the match. “This is the beginning of a fresh era for Real Madrid. There is considerable room for development. We have areas we want to refine and enhance, and this is a disappointing setback. We have to admit that we fell short of expectations today, and these experiences will inform how we evolve as a team, how we approach situations, so we can compete at a higher level than we demonstrated today.”
While PSG discarded their strategy centered around star players prior to their memorable treble-winning year, Real Madrid remains bound by the reality of possessing a roster with excessive abundance. Wednesday marked Alonso’s premier opportunity to field Garcia alongside Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, with the 21-year-old assuming a more pivotal role in a three-man attacking formation. The outcomes were not entirely satisfactory – collectively, the three generated five attempts, four originating from Mbappe and none from Garcia, for a cumulative expected goal value of 0.47. It represented the majority of Madrid’s offensive efforts on a day they were distinctly second-rate, registering 11 attempts overall with an expected goal value of 0.75 and maintaining only 32% of ball possession.
That instance does not inherently criticize the individual skills of the players or even Alonso’s management, nor does it indicate the absence of a potential equilibrium among Real Madrid’s offensive capabilities. It also does not come as a great revelation that Alonso could not optimize this group in their initial joint appearance, but the 4-0 defeat to PSG serves as a potent reminder that the equilibrium Alonso needs to establish involves not solely his attacking players but also addressing deficiencies across almost every sector of the field.
To cite just one illustration, they were without Trent Alexander-Arnold due to injury, and although Federico Valverde possesses remarkable versatility, his forte does not lie in the right-back position. This amplified the challenge for Real Madrid on the flanks, given that this zone of the field is pivotal to PSG’s achievements. More conspicuously, however, was the lackluster display of center backs Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asensio, the latest to be surpassed by PSG’s attacking force. More than simply ineffective, they were disconcerted and predominantly responsible for the result, surpassing the attacking trio that commonly dominates the headlines. Alonso might have exercised diplomacy in his post-match remarks, but the manager appears cognizant that his challenges are widespread.
“I am referring to the collective, not individuals, not specific players, not the defense, not the attack,” he conveyed. “I am discussing Real Madrid as a unified team, our desired style of play, and today, we displayed some shortcomings at various junctures. At times, it is advantageous to identify our errors to derive lessons for the future. However, if we repeatedly encounter the same mistakes, we will not be operating intelligently.”
It resulted in a subpar sendoff for Luka Modric, who participated for 25 minutes in his concluding match for Real Madrid. This too provided a glimpse into the team’s troubles — approaching his 40th birthday in two months, Madrid’s choice to move on from an iconic player is reasonable, despite his remaining ability and passion to continue. The midfield maestro, however, could contribute little to a game already trailing 3-0. The contest not only represented the conclusion of an era for Modric, the singular player to claim the Ballon d’Or during a 13-year stretch dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who alternatively secured the accolade. It signified the culmination of an era for Madrid, indicating the necessity for a revamped strategy.
“It’s a disappointing conclusion, but Luka will not be remembered for the events of today,” Alonso, Modric’s erstwhile teammate, stated. “His legacy will be cemented by numerous other remarkable performances. He stands as a global icon in football, a Real Madrid legend. We had the fortune and privilege to share moments with him both on and off the pitch, and his historical contributions will be distinguished by positive achievements, [not] solely his final 25 minutes played today.”
With a new manager at the helm, the timing is ideal for a restructuring, despite the expectation that Mbappe’s addition would represent a team operating at their zenith. The extent of progress achievable before their La Liga debut on Aug. 19 remains a key question, with Alonso appropriately noting that a respite is necessary for a group of players who have been continuously active for almost 11 months. The manager was resolute that they will approach the upcoming season “from a clean slate,” suggesting that the Club World Cup served as a preparatory phase for his vision of the team and that alterations are forthcoming, even if he remains discreet regarding specific plans. A reconstruction may not align with the image of Europe’s most illustrious club, but 13 months after their most recent trophy, it remains their sole recourse — whether they embrace it or not.
