Real Madrid 2018/19 season review: How has it come to this? | OneFootball

Unlike most clubs, Real Madrid’s 2018/19 season started last May – three days after their Champions League victory over Liverpool.

Zinedine Zidane shocked the world by confirming he would be walking away from the club, with Cristiano Ronaldo doing the same six weeks later.

It started badly for Los Blancos – it got even worse.

Player of the season: Karim Benzema

With Cristiano Ronaldo leaving last summer, it was up to Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, and Karim Benzema to carry the load. Only one of those truly stepped up.

Benzema has had the season of his life, back inside the six yard box and back to scoring goals. He’s got over 20 for the first time in eight seasons and looks like, once again, one of the best centre forwards in Europe.

One of the very few Real Madrid stars to come out with any credit this season.

Flop of the season: Gareth Bale

In truth this could have been one of many, but just pipping everyone to the post is Gareth Bale.

It’s been quite the demise for Real Madrid’s resident Welshman – just 12 months after his Champions League final heroics, Los Blancos can’t get Bale out of the door quickly enough.

It’s a sad end to what’s been a rollercoaster eight years for the former Tottenham man. There’s no doubt he’s had some memorable moments in the famous white shirt, but chronic injuries and the weight of expectation have seen him become a husk of his former self.

Rating the manager

There’s no way you can truly give Zinedine Zidane a rating having only re-joined the club in March, but on this early evidence, it’s clear that things aren’t going to be like they were before.

Zidane is aware that the squad needs an almost wholesale overhaul and will play a major part in the recruitment process this summer.

One of the main tenants of his agreeing to come back to Santiago Bernabeu was that he would have a major influence on signings, so we can only really judge his second spell by this time next year.

What needs to be fixed:

Pffffftttt. Where to start?

The goalkeeper situation needs to be sorted out: if Zidane doesn’t want Thibaut Courtois, who comes in to replace the Belgian and is Keylor Navas good enough to be a regular number one.

A new left-back to replace Marcelo is desperately needed.

What’s happened to Luka Modric and is Toni Kroos still good enough to run a midfield?

Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez haven’t turned up all season: why?

The whole Isco situation needs resolution and will someone please explain how Mariano Diaz was allowed to return?

There’s a lot to do and not a lot of time.

Rating the season: 2/10