14 DAY TRIAL // Fabio Capello started the Real Madrid revolution this summer. The fans were being skeptical, the new president was being trustful and the players were being curious of what Capello had in store for them. Ramon Calderon made everything possible - financially - so that Capello would have all wanted players at his disposal.
No doubt about it, Capello's coming to Real Madrid had everything to do with Predrag Mijatovic. The former Madrid striker played his best football at Bernabeu during Capello's first mandate and you don't forget that very easy. And, considering Juventus' breakdown, the Italian didn't have to think twice before agreeing the Spanish move.
Here we are, one month away from Madrid's first official match this season. And Real Madrid's reconstruction doesn't seem that successful. A series of impressive players were signed for the next season - Reyes, Emerson, Cannavaro, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Diarra - but the results fail to come.
Real Madrid is already on a 2-points deficit towards Barcelona and registered a loss in Champions League's opener, at Lyon. Not only that, but Real Madrid is not playing that spectacular football everyone was so enthusiastic about any more and the Madrilenes are being booed every time they play on Bernabeu.
If we are to look at the evidence, we might say that Capello's mandate is a failure. The team lack consistency in offense and allows too many goals in defense. Insting on signing young and promising players, Real turned to Cannavaro and Emerson, both over 30. Considering that Real Madrid wants to BUILD a new team, transferring almost-retired players would have to be out of the question.
Arsene Wenger does this reconstruction thing perfectly at Arsenal. The main principle is to build the team around one player. For the gunners, that guy is Thierry Henry, a player who has been with Arsenal for a number of years and has the support of all London fans.
Let's turn around and look at Real Madrid. Who is Fabio Capello building the team around? Is it Emerson and Cannavaro? Is it Ruud? These players are 3 or 4 years from retirement and have not played at Bernabeu one minute before this season. The team should be reconstructed around Raul. He is the main player to fit into the equation.
Still, Capello's trouble is that Raul is not doing well at all. He hasn't been in shape for a number of years now and hasn't scored a goal for Real in the last 330 days. Another veteran is Roberto Carlos. Still, the Brazilian is on top of fans' unwanted list.
This is where Fabio Capello's problem lies. He has no leader. No one to guide this new and "reconstructed" team. No veterans to set an example. And, most of all, no support from the fans. Everybody sees himself as rightful owner of a starting position. Robinho, Cicinho, Ronaldo, Beckam, Emerson? they all think they deserve to play.
Nobody is playing for the team, and that's what Capello is trying to change. And that's why it's so hard for him to succeed. It's not easy to make players that used to play for themselves sacrifice for the team.
If you look closely, you'll see Capello desperate to find a real leader for this team. And he realized that the guy could only come from Real Madrid's "old school". If you're wondering why the Italian insists on Raul's recovery, that's your answer. And it's the same when talking about Ronaldo or Guti. Role models are hard to find at Madrid, and Capello knows it. That's why he tries to rejuvenate old ones.
And there's one more issue to be discussed. Apart from lacking a team leader, Real Madrid also lacks mentality. Not winning a trophy for 3 years in a row made the Bernabeu fans go crazy at each loss. And that's not at all compatible with building a new team. For that, you need quietness, trust and support. And that's one thing the fans failed to give their favorites.
It's not hard to understand where Capello's coming from. All the teams - with no exception whatsoever - that he previously coached managed to win at least one or two trophies. AC Milan, Real Madrid (past mandate), AS Roma (where he took an inexperienced team and turned it into the Serie A champion), Juventus Turin are all proofs of success.
Real Madrid should trust Capello, no matter how many wrong steps he'll take along the way. He already proved everybody he's a winner, and this new challenge for him will have a better chance of succeeding if people worked together. And that means fans, media, officials and players. It's hard, but everybody has to give some if they want some back.
As for changing the tactics, Capello is most certainly right. Italy is champion of the world thanks to a wonderful defense and a prolific offense. You have to give strength to your team and make it secure, and only then think about spectacle. If Real Madrid gets on and wins the Spanish title thanks to a defensive play, you can bet on them playing more and more spectacular day after day.
Trophies and victories lead to success. You must first get them - no matter the way in which you do that - and they'll bring you others. Once Real Madrid wins a trophy - and breaks this psychological barrier - then you'll have a taste of what this team is all about. Until then, the fans will just going to have to wait and support the team. Shouting may help them let go of the anger, but is sure not helping the team.
