Real Madrid look back to an uncertain future
Even Real Madrid's ever-optimistic club president Florentino Perez admitted this weekend that the Spanish giants had fallen short of his and the club's supporters' expectations.
Even Real Madrid's ever-optimistic club president Florentino Perez admitted this weekend that the Spanish giants had fallen short of his and the club's supporters' expectations.
The 29-times Spanish champions clocked up a club record fifth consectutive loss in the league when they went down 4-1 at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Into the bargain, the defeat was their fourth consecutive in front of their home fans in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, who whistled the Real players long and loud as they left the pitch on Sunday.
"It's been a regular season, that's for sure," commented Perez on Saturday, with considerable understatement.
"But I am proud of what we have achieved over the last four years. It is a firm base from which to improve," added the 57 year-old construction magnate, trying to look on the bright side of the recent decline.
The players also admitted that they could have done better; far, far better.
"The results at the end of the season clearly indiciate that we have failed. No we have to analyse and try to change things for next season," added Brazilain World Cup winner Ronaldo after the latest debacle
One of the major changes, which could occur a day or so, will be in the coaching department.
Carlos Qurieroz is expected to be shown the door, with Benfica's former Spanish national coach Jose Antonio Camacho the favourite to take over the reins of the world's richest club.
Queiroz was almost resigned to his departure on Sunday night.
"I accept that we have made errors and I say that with courage, humility and responsibility," said the Portuguese coach.
The question now is, where do Real Madrid and Perez go from here after their first trophy-less season since 1999.
"Real can't just tidy things up by the signing of a central defender, not with the arrival of Camacho. The crisis is much deeper than that," commented sports daily Marca, the country's biggest-selling paper.
"Even the galacticos are immortal. Madrid need a new team, but where's the money going to be spent," added Marca, taking a swipe at Perez's apparent policy of signing one superstar every summer but ignoring other necessery reinforcements.
Perez certainly has deep pockets.
Twice during his four-year reign he has broken the bank, and the world record transfer fee.
Firsly, he signed Luis Figo for 61.7 million euros in 200 and the following year he topped that by paying 75.1 million euros for Zinedine Zidane.
Ronaldo and England captain David Beckham didn't come cheap either.
However, Perez has indicated that the days of wanton expenditure are coming to an end, even if the rumours persist that he has Manchester United's Ruud van Nistleroy in his sights.
It looks increasingly likely that Camacho, or whoever takes over as Real's coach, will have to persevere with what he finds when he walks through the door of the Bernabeu, and that could mean another season of failing in their fans' eyes.