Valdano: "There's no collective spirit at Real Madrid; Lopetegui tried but wasn't given time"
Jorge Valdano gave his views on El Clásico to Onda Cero's El Transistor show and spoke about the relationship between Isco and Santiago Solari.
Jorge Valdano reviewed events in the recent Clásico with Onda Cero's El Transistor programme. The Argentinean former player and coach said he saw a Real Madrid which battled relentlessly and yet were unable to find a way past Barcelona who carried out Ernesto Valverde's plan to perfection. He also spoke about Isco's situation at Real Madrid and Julen Lopetegui's attempts to turn the team into a unit during his brief time as coach.
Battling Real Madrid: "You can't accuse Madrid of not trying hard enough. As far as attitude and intensity goes you cannot fault Real Madrid at all in either of the two games - they gave everything they could".
Barcelona's gameplan
Vinicius snuffed out by Barça: "Valverde read the Copa game really well; Barça collectively closed down Vinicius with Sergi Roberto, Busquets and Piqué".
Lopetegui wasn't given enough time: "Real Madrid don't have the kind of collective spirit which Barcelona has, that was what Lopetegui was trying to achieve but he wasn't given enough time".
Less tense in Barcelona: "Madrid seemed more tense than Barça at the Bernabéu than they did in the first leg at Camp Nou".
Barcelona played their game: "Barça had the ball and that made them feel more natural and allowed them to play their own game".
Rebuilding the squad
Madrid need to make good signings: "The coach has to look to the next game but the club needs to look to next season; Madrid have to into the transfer market with a clear idea about what they need".
Isco's situation: "I've experienced some tense situations with players but never to the point where we don't talk, that's never happened to me. I'm sure there's someone in the coaching staff who communicates with Isco; Solari isn't one of those coaches who demands you're either with him or against him".
Return leg against Ajax: "Under no circumstances should Madrid underestimate Ajax".