Real Madrid Set to Usher In a Generation of Youngsters After Defeat to Manchester City

• Real Madrid were eliminated from the UCL in style by Manchester City
• Los Blancos looked toothless during the Champions League fixture
• A summer squad revamp could be on the cards for Real Madrid

Even before the full-time whistle blew in Manchester City’s 4-0 mauling of Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, the Madrid players looked to have accepted their fate.

The Spanish side had been outpassed, outrun, and outclassed for almost the entirety of the 90 minutes by a City side that was simply a cut above.

It was a performance that not only saw Los Blancos crash out of the tournament, but also made a team of world-class superstars look mediocre and a fanbase used to chanting “Así! Así! Así gana el Madrid! (That’s how! That’s how! That’s how Madrid wins!)” stay eerily silent.

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To see a club like Real Madrid get put to the sword is always a surprise, but it’s even more shocking when you consider it was this team, in this competition.

Even when their domestic form has been found wanting in recent years, Madrid have always looked like a different beast in the Champions League.

Los Merengues possess a team full of tournament veterans who know exactly how to win this tournament, as the club has done a record 14 times in total and five times in the last 10 years – including an unprecedented three in a row from 2016 to 2018.

The midfield partnership of Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos has lifted the trophy five times during their storied careers, as has superstar striker Karim Benzema, but none of the established cogs in the Real Madrid wheel could do anything to stem the flow of City’s attacks.

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It was telling that both Modrić and Kroos were substituted in the second half.

Madrid: End of an era?

Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti could do even less from the sidelines, and admitted to Movistar in his post-match interview that his side was beaten by the better team.

“It is a defeat that hurts, it hurts a lot. But it can happen,” Ancelotti told reporters after the match.

“We reached the semifinals of the Champions League against a strong opponent, they played better and left us without a final. We have to learn and, for the next season, to be better.”

It felt like an unceremonious end of an era for the club, which already has one eye on the future.

The likes of Modrić, 37, and Kroos, 33, are likely to still be at Madrid for one more season, but both might have to adapt to different roles.

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For years, the two have formed one of the greatest partnerships in football history, regularly bossing games with their composure and quality on the ball.

But with both in the twilight of their careers and signalling a desire to end their football journeys in the Spanish capital, the midfield seems like the obvious place to start a rebuild – and that’s exactly what Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and his hierarchy have done.

In the last two seasons, the club has managed to secure the signatures of Frenchmen Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga – two of the most exciting young midfielders in world football.

Real Madrid’s transfer priorities

A new striker is surely a priority for next season, with Madrid needing someone to take the weight off Benzema and form a long-term forward line alongside young Brazilian stars Vinícius Junior and Rodrygo.

As reported by Marca, Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, arguably the best player in the world, is a dream target, but securing his signature will be no mean feat, as the club found out last season when he flirted with a move before deciding to stay at Paris Saint-Germain.

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The transfer of Borussia Dortmund midfielder, Jude Bellingham edges even closer, as well as the rumoured move for Bayern's Alphonso Davies.

In truth, the chastening defeat against Manchester City has only amplified what Madridistas already knew.

It’s time for fresh legs in the team because, while the success of the last 10 years will always be cherished and never be forgotten, no club can sit back and bask in its own glory – especially with teams like City starting to dominate.

Madrid’s insatiable fan base will expect nothing more. After all, they booed the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo at the peak of their powers in the unquenchable thirst for evermore silverware.

The next question is- who is best placed to usher in the new era?

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Los Blancos may have their sight set on next season already, but the woes of the current campaign are not completely behind them.

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Real Madrid could face point deductions after a substitution incident against Getafe.

It remains to be seen what the verdict of the La Liga governing body will be. If Madrid are found guilty, a three-point deduction and a potential fine appear likely.