Figo fails to find answer to Real inconsistency
Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo admits he is at a loss to explain to the disparity between his side's impressive Champions' League form and their dire start in the league. "We ask ourselves what is wrong, but we can't find the solution," he said.
Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo admits he is at a loss to explain to the disparity between his side's impressive Champions' League form and their dire start in the league. "We ask ourselves what is wrong, but we can't find the solution," he said.
Vicente del Bosque's side were the first to qualify for the second phase of the Champions' League with victory over Anderlecht last week, but in La Liga a 1-1 draw at home to Celta Vigo at the weekend has compounded their worst start to a league season.
Real are fifteenth with nine games played, and ahead of his side's Champions' League clash with Roma at the Bernebeu, Figo confessed he could not understand his side's inconsistency
"I don't find any reasonable explanation for our poor domestic start and good European performances," the Portugal international said.
"There is no apparent reason. Of course we ask ourselves what is wrong but we haven't been able to find the solution to this problem."
"We give our best in the Spanish League and in the Champions' League, we aren't only concentrating on one competition."
"We want to win the Spanish title because we know what it means to the club, but football is like that. Sometimes the goals come and sometimes they don't. What can we do?"
Coach Vicente Del Bosque's difficulties in fitting Zidane into the Real side may provide the answer.
Zidane has yet to play a Champions' League game for his new club and it can be no coincidence that it his absence has coincided with Real's best form.
Figo, however, suggests tactical changes may provide the clue.
"There are certain things that are changed when we play in the league and when we play in Europe," he said.
"In the Champions' League we play with two central midfielders and the team becomes more balanced in all aspects."
Despite already lying ten points adrift of leaders Deportivo, Figo remains convinced that his side can still win the title.
"We know that we don't have much room for any more mistakes but I think we have made them all already," he said.
"We still have a good chance of winning the title. It's not going to be easy but we have time to recover."
Like Zinedine Zidane, who returns to the side to face Roma after his Champions' League suspension, Figo has come under heavy in the Madrid press.
But the former Barcelona star refutes claims that he is less influential than last season.
"Physically I'm very well," he said.
"I have no problems whatsoever. Maybe that's the problem! I run too much, defend too much. I like to have the ball and I fight for possession.
"Last season the critics said that I was always in the middle when I was supposed to be a right winger, this season the same guys criticise me for not having such an influential role in attack because I stay in the flank.
"They should think before they speak because I'm waiting for their instructions," he added ironically.