Isco is losing the run of himself

It’s hard to know if the problem with Isco relates to something off the pitch, but on it he has suffered a worrying dip in form. His performances this season don’t hold a light to those of last year, when he delighted fans and showcased his unquestionable talent with aplomb. Isco has superb technical ability and boundless imagination but for some reason he hasn’t been producing the goods lately. He was a shadow of his former self against Las Palmas; there were no signs of the aforementioned technical flair, he was ineffective in attack and to top it off, the manner in which he comported himself was a huge cause for frustration. First he uncharacteristically swung an elbow at Bigas, which could have easily earned him a red card, and then he lashed out after being taken off by Zidane.

With the Euro Cup around the corner and concerns growing that he won’t make it into Vicente Del Bosque’s 23-man squad, Isco is in desperate need of a confidence boost. He can no longer fall back on the excuse that the manager doesn’t understand or appreciate him. Zizou decided to replace him because his performance was way below par. While few on the Real Madrid squad are performing to their level, Isco’s slump in form at this decisive part of the season is particularly surprising.