Thread by @jcperez_

If I had to point out Lopetegui's biggest problem as #RealMadrid manager, is that he sacrificed too much of his original possession + pressing game plan to not upset the existing dressing room hierarchy.

The team then devolved into a bad, Ronaldo-less copy of the Zidane system.

And when you see how strongly the dressing room leaders have supported Lopetegui (in the press room, not really on the pitch), you understand why he took that decision.

But a philosophy manager renouncing his philosophy often doesn't end well.

For example, Ceballos has been one of Real's most in-form players this season and an almost ideal fit for Julen's playing style. He should be a starter right now, yet he did not play a single minute of #ElClasico because Julen keeps choosing hierarchy over performance.

For Julen's playing style, I believe that the ideal midfield structure and personnel is not the CKM midfield, who are not aggressive enough both in buildup and pressing. In contrast, see the aggressive positions of a Kroos-Isco-Ceballos midfield in the 1st league game vs Getafe.

Hierarchy is the same reason Nacho, who's had a lackluster season, played ahead of Odriozola, who is a better fit for the diagonal switches of play that were originally a basic element of Julen's style of play. Once again, here's an example from the Getafe game.

It's normal (and often necessary) for a manager to compromise some elements of his philosophy to adjust to the profiles and hierarchies of the squad, but I think Julen may have taken it too far.

Real Madrid needs a strong tactical structure more than ever to compensate Ronaldo's departure. That requires RM managers to make decisions based on performance rather than hierarchy more often than before.

This hierarchy problem is part of why Zidane left. He was too loyal to his players to upset the hierarchy and make the changes needed for the team to keep winning.

That's why he said, upon leaving, that the team needed “a new discourse, a new work methodology” to keep winning.

Now that Julen's firing looks imminent, keep this hierarchy problem in mind once the search for a new manager begins. I'm not even saying they need a Conte-style disciplinarian (that might be...too much 😅) but they certainly need someone who doesn't play it as safe as Julen did.

PS. Just to clarify, at no point in this thread am I saying that Julen is THE guilty party in this downward spiral. This was a product of decisions from players, coach, club management.

However, I did want to point out what I believe is Julen's "contribution" to the problem

But tbh, Julen was in a tough spot from the very beginning. Remember, even Zidane gave up on sorting out the hierarchy problem, and he had more credibility with the players, management, fans, and media than anyone.

The issue of Julen and hierarchies is just a fraction of what caused Real's downward spiral this early season.

I just wanted to write this thread as a post-mortem on what Julen, a man who was in an impossible position to begin with, could have done differently.