On The Continent: February Blues For Madrid

Bernd Schuster

Things have been difficult in the last few games. We are finding problems that we did not have before. We are wasting too many chances, although we are defending much better. We have dominated these games but our opponents have taken the spoils. We have to get over these difficulties. We are a team and as a team we have to get over it. Things have happened in these games that we don't deserve and we are paying dearly for them.

By Citizen Correspondent Sir Stephen

Date Posted: 02/25/08

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Real Madrid's awful month continues as Barcelona close in on them.....

FEBRUARY BLUES CONTINUE FOR MADRID
Not so many weeks ago (two in fact), Real Madrid were streaking off into the sunset with the Primera Liga title in their grasp, but two successive defeats have seen the champions' lead cut from eight points to just two by a Barcelona side with the scent of blood in their nostrils. February has been a disastrous month for Los Merengues, with the anomalous 7-0 thrashing of Valladolid the only bright point amongst four defeats.

The latest of these is perhaps the worst, as the other three were at least all in away fixtures, whereas yesterday's 1-0 loss to Getafe came at the Bernabeu, their first home defeat of the season. Ikechukwu Uche scored the only goal of the game against his team's neighbours as most of the Madrid side were celebrating an Arjen Robben goal that had been disallowed.

Afterwards, Uche was understandably excited about his achievement: "Any goal is important, but this one was the most important of my life," he said. "I am very happy because the team worked and ran a lot, conscious that Madrid have a lot of quality and that any error could cost a goal. We had the luck of what happened, we took advantage of our chances and we were able to hold out."

It had been over a year since Madrid lost at home in the league and their situation at the moment seems to be in direct contrast to 12 months ago, when they were chasing down Barcelona and clawing their way into the title race. However, coach Bernd Schuster remains convinced that his team will bounce back: "I'm not worried," he said. "We have to show that we are a team as much in the good moments as the bad moments.