Former Real Madrid manager and player Jorge Valdano says he believe the club is paying the price for the disconnect between boss Rafa Benitez and the players this season.
Los Blancos slipped to defeat at Villarreal on Sunday, blowing the chance to cut the gap on Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid to two points. It is the latest in a poor season by Real’s high standards.
On the field, they were hammered by Barcelona in the Clasico and also lost to Sevilla, while that have not looked convincing in other games.
Off the field, there have been stories of fallings out between senior players and the manager, while the club was also thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz when he was supposed to be serving a one-match ban.
Speaking on El Larguero, Valdano said the game at El Madrigal was an example of the disconnect between Benitez and his team.
“There was a drop of collective intensity from the first minute. It’s inexplicable what happened in the first half, especially after seeing the second part. Madrid had the opportunity to move within two points and they lost in the first-half with a team with weak spirit. In the first half Madrid acted with an unbecoming mediocrity,” he said.
And he added: “At Madrid you cannot train the same way Villarreal does. It’s much more complex than that. Madrid are paying the price of having a disconnect between the manager and players.”
