Real shame

So where did it all go wrong?

How could the self-described "Harlem Globetrotters of soccer" -- that's what chairman Florentino Perez called them -- implode against Juventus, getting unceremoniously dumped from the semifinals of the Champions League?

With Real Madrid stuck behind Deportivo La Coruna and Real Sociedad domestically, it faces the looming specter of a season devoid of meaningful silverware (apart from the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, which are nice but which require just 90 minutes of excellence).

Should the Liga title slip away this year, the major trophy haul since Perez took over in the summer of 2000 would be limited to a league title and a Champions' League crown. Not bad, but hardly earth-shattering for a team described by some as the "best club side" of all-time.

Serious questions need to be asked. Juventus played very well -- not just in Turin, but over the two legs -- showing greater mental toughness, tactical savvy and sheer hunger.

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But there are two other factors, neither of which received much attention, which help explain Real's collapse. For all its talent, Vicente Del Bosque's squad was ill-assembled and, on occasion, badly managed. And, while this may come as a surprise, Real was never the juggernaut the media hype made it appear.

The first indictment is against those who ran the team: Del Bosque, general manager Jorge Valdano and chairman Perez. They failed to a find a reliable holding midfielder to partner Claude Makelele. They failed to strengthen an overworked back line. And, most of all, they failed to see the benefits of a larger, well-motivated squad that could cope with injuries, suspensions and the inevitable peaks and troughs that come with top-flight soccer.

While both Juventus and Manchester United boasted 18 players who made at least 20 domestic and European appearances, Real had just 15 who reached that mark, which implies that while the starting 11 was outstanding, Del Bosque had little faith in his reserves.

This meant that when things went wrong he was forced to call upon guys who were other inexperienced or lacking match fitness. Witness the first leg of the semifinal, when Fernando Morientes, making just his fourth start of the season, filled in for Raul.

Del Bosque's actions also seemed to undermine the confidence of a number of otherwise quality players. Santiago Solari, nothing short of stellar last year, seemed an afterthought this season, making just eight appearances all year. His countryman Esteban Cambiasso, dropped after a poor spell early in the season, managed just four appearances in the last two months. As for Morientes, he virtually disappeared after scoring 19 Liga goals last season.

A good man-manager knows how to make players feel like they are an integral part of the side even when they aren't playing. He rotates his men to keep the regulars sharp and motivated. And he makes sure he has his bases covered when injury and suspensions hit. Del Bosque failed on all those counts.

It would be unfair, however, to simply blame the coach. Perez's policy of "Zidanes and Pavons" is also guilty. The chairman thought that rather than buying good-to-great players to round out the squad, he would simply spend money on the biggest superstars available (like Zidane) and fill the rest of the team with youngsters (such as Pavon).

Promoting from within is laudable, but there is no substitute for experience and quality. When it came to crunch time, Del Bosque stuck with the known quantity -- his already overworked regulars -- and the results are there for all to see.

As for the other factor, Real simply isn't that good.

Over the course of the season, it has failed to dominate consistently. Compare Real's results to those of us Manchester United and Juventus, both of whom were involved in tight domestic battles and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

In league and European competition, United notched 114 points in 52 matches, a 2.19 points-per-game total. Juventus managed 96 in 48 games, or 2 points-per-game, while Real tallied 91 in 49 matches, or 1.86 per game.

Far from being an invincible armada, Real was (and is) an immensely talented side that is prone to highs and lows. When it's on top of its game, few opponents can compete, but when it starts sleepwalking through matches it's in serious trouble.

And the sad fact is that Real has underperformed in a number of games this year, a fact that almost cost it a place in the quarterfinals. This aspect is often overlooked thanks to dazzling performances like the 3-1 win over Manchester United last month, though cold, hard facts tell a different story.

Over the two legs, United had 19 shots on target to Real's 14. Even against Juventus, hardly a swashbuckling side, Real out-shot the Italians just 12 to 11. This suggests that for all Real's supremacy in terms of skill and entertainment, Del Bosque's men came up short in the basic point of the game: shooting on goal, which is the only way to score.

None of this should detract from the fact that Real played some of the best soccer since the great AC Milan sides of the late 1980s. It provided us with a breathtaking spectacle, and for this anyone who loves the game should be eternally grateful.

Which makes the possibility that such a wonderful corps of talent could end up emptyhanded all the more tragic.