Real Madrid icon Gareth Bale has offered a candid assessment of Los Blancos’ narrow 0-1 Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, stating the team lacked attacking “quality” in the final third.
The former forward also weighed in on the tactical balance of the side under manager Xabi Alonso, according to Madrid Universal reporting.
The result, sealed by a solitary Alexis Mac Allister goal, highlighted a disjointed offensive display from the Spanish giants, who were primarily kept in the game by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Bale, speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, admitted disappointment in the lack of end product from Madrid’s star forwards.
“We didn’t see (Kylian) Mbappe or Vinicius in that final third working their magic and getting back into the game,” Bale noted, before delivering his core criticism: “It was a bit disappointing that in that final third we didn’t really see the quality that we expect from Real Madrid players.”
Statistical evidence backed up Bale’s observation, with Vinícius Júnior failing to register a shot on goal and Kylian Mbappé unable to test the Liverpool goalkeeper despite completing all five of his dribbles.
Explaining the ineffectiveness of the attack, Bale provided an insightful tactical suggestion: “Maybe you need that ‘9’ reference point, and that complicates things a bit.” He implied that the absence of a traditional central striker might be hindering the star wingers.
Bale concluded by stressing the unique demands of managing the club, saying: “I think everyone knows that at Real Madrid it’s sometimes more about managing the players than just tactics.
I’m sure Xabi knows that, as he has a lot of experience as a player and now as a coach.”
The comments put the spotlight on Alonso’s ongoing challenge to manage egos and formations simultaneously.