Real Madrid icon explains what went wrong against Liverpool – ‘We didn’t see the quality we expect’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has weighed in on Los Blancos’ narrow 0-1 loss to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, offering a measured assessment of the team’s display and of Xabi Alonso’s early days in charge.

The result at Anfield was a tough pill to swallow for Real Madrid, who were kept in the contest largely thanks to Thibaut Courtois. 

Despite the defeat, Real Madrid showed plenty of structure and discipline, forcing Liverpool to rely on a solitary goal to seal the win.

Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo (h/t AS), Bale admitted he expected more in the final third.

“We didn’t see (Kylian) Mbappe or Vinicius in that final third working their magic and getting back into the game. 

“It was a bit disappointing that in that final third we didn’t really see the quality that we expect from Real Madrid players,” said the Welshman.

Why were they ineffective?

The stats backed up Bale’s point. Vinícius created one notable chance but failed to register a single shot on goal, while Mbappe, despite completing all five of his dribbles, could not test the Liverpool goalkeeper with any of his three attempts.

Real Madrid could not trouble the Liverpool defence. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

When asked why the pair were so ineffective, Bale gave an honest yet insightful answer that shed light on Madrid’s tactical balance.

“It’s frustrating. Maybe it just complicates things. Sometimes you just have to push the ball forward and test the defender. 

They were clearly faster than any of the other players on the field, so, well… Only they can answer those questions. 

“Maybe they don’t do it because there’s no one else in the box waiting for the crosses. Maybe you need that ‘9’ reference point, and that complicates things a bit.”

The former Madrid man also highlighted the importance of player management at the club, something he believes Xabi Alonso understands perfectly well.

“I think everyone knows that at Real Madrid it’s sometimes more about managing the players than just tactics. 

I’m sure Xabi knows that, as he has a lot of experience as a player and now as a coach,” he concluded.