Fernando Morientes, the former Real Madrid forward, has recently shared his views on the team’s struggles both in terms of performance and results, highlighting several key issues that have contributed to the ongoing crisis at the club.

One of the first problems Morientes points to is the underestimation of Toni Kroos’ departure from the team.

According to Morientes, Real Madrid did not fully recognize how vital the German midfielder was to the team’s success. He suggests that the impact of losing such a pivotal player was not given the attention it deserved, and this has left a noticeable gap in the squad.

“It’s a matter of slightly underestimating the progress of one of the leaders in the midfield. We have talked about it a thousand times and heard it in countless debates which is Toni Kroos,” he told COPE.

Lack of depth

Morientes says Aurelien Tchouameni should not be a centre-back. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Another major issue that Morientes identifies is the squad’s lack of depth, particularly in the defensive department. Real Madrid currently do not have four reliable centre-backs, which becomes problematic if injuries or suspensions occur.

“The lack of squad construction is a big problem,” he noted.

He emphasizes that while players like Aurelien Tchouameni may be physically strong, they are not suited to play the centre-back role, which requires a specific skill set.

“Not having four reliable centre-backs is a handicap if anything happens. You can’t imagine Tchouameni as a centre-back, even though he is a big, strong and powerful guy. And the centre-backs can tell you that.”

Morientes draws a comparison, saying it would be unrealistic to expect a midfielder to perform as a striker, as the roles require entirely different responsibilities. The imbalance in the squad has left Real Madrid vulnerable in certain areas of the field.

“I can’t imagine a midfielder as a striker because strikers have a completely different job to everyone else,” he added.

Urge to change

Morientes has urged Ancelotti to change his team. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

In addition to these problems, Morientes also addressed Carlo Ancelotti’s role in the crisis. He believes that the coach has the experience to resolve the issues, but there needs to be more action from him in terms of making tactical adjustments and shifting the team’s dynamics.

“There is a mix of everything and what would be good, and what I would like, is for Ancelotti to change the team,” he said.

Lastly, he mentioned that there are still untapped opportunities within the squad, referencing young players like Endrick and Arda Guler, who have shown flashes of brilliance.

He suggests that Ancelotti should explore different line-ups and approaches to find solutions that have not yet been discovered.