Real Madrid player eager for ‘La Liga to be finished’ to focus on Club World Cup preparation | OneFootball

According to journalist Mario Cortegana in The Athletic, the mood inside the Real Madrid camp has taken a serious hit following their 3-4 defeat to Barcelona.

With La Liga now all but lost, one Real Madrid player has reportedly confessed in private that the “best thing that can happen in La Liga is to be finished and train well for the Club World Cup.”

Real Madrid will finish this campaign without winning any major domestic or European titles.

Although they did manage to lift the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, they have lost the three most important trophies — La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup — all to bitter rivals Barcelona.

Sunday’s Clasico defeat was not just another loss; it marked the third time they’ve been beaten by Barça this season.

Madrid look forward to summer

Barcelona’s win did not just hand them bragging rights. It also highlighted their dominance over Real Madrid this season. For the first time in history, a rival has scored 16 goals against Madrid in a single campaign.

Real Madrid will go all out for FIFA Club World Cup. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have now conceded 37 goals in 35 La Liga games, a worrying number, especially considering they conceded 11 fewer last season.

La Liga is not yet mathematically over, but it is close. Barcelona are seven points clear and can secure the title with a win over Espanyol, or if Madrid fail to beat Mallorca on Wednesday.

With nothing left to play for, it is no surprise that some Madrid players are already thinking about what comes next.

That “next” is the revamped Club World Cup, a tournament that could help the club save face, both in terms of silverware and financially. Real Madrid will go into that competition with a new manager, Xabi Alonso, at the helm.

With big money and prestige at stake, players are already mentally preparing for the challenge ahead. After a rough season, the Club World Cup might be the only chance left for redemption.