Florentino Pérez lays down demands to Real Madrid after Benfica defeat | OneFootball

Real Madrid, which before visiting Luz held a position that guaranteed them direct access to the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, left defeated (4-2). They will now have to play in the play-off, where they will face Bodo Glimt or the Eagles once again, something that did not sit well with Florentino Pérez.

The result exposed a difficult situation at the Madrid club: Xabi Alonso was dismissed following poor results, and Arbeloa, who succeeded him in the role, is far from convincing anyone that he is capable of changing the course of events, which intensifies the debate about his continuity next season.

According to Cadena SER, the atmosphere in the blancos’ locker room was tense after the defeat. President Florentino Pérez personally addressed five players, dissatisfied with their attitude and behavior, feeling the need to intervene as he considered the situation critical.

According to the Spanish radio station, the player the president focused on most was Jude Bellingham, demanding that the Englishman become the team’s leader, after he failed to take on that role in the match against the Eagles – who reinforced their record against the 'Merengues'.

There was reportedly great concern about the team’s overall attitude and level of play, given that Real Madrid has not won a significant trophy since the 2023/2024 season, when they won the Champions League. In light of this, Florentino Pérez is said to have made it clear to the players what he expected from them, expressing his dissatisfaction.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.