Last night's UEFA Champions League elimination for Real Madrid has brought up some major issues, and the team's supporters have made their voices heard.
Following their passionate protests outside Santiago Bernabeu Stadium right after the game, where some supporters cried out for Jose Mourinho's return, a poll conducted by Spanish newspaper Marca reveals that some -if not all- Real Madrid supporters agree that the team needs a massive overhaul if they want to bounce back from this appalling loss.
Fans believe to have identified the causes of Real Madrid's breakdown, with the results of this poll showing that there are three players that should be unceremoniously fired by Florentino Pérez's board.
Let us take a deep look into the poll's results.
Goalkeepers
Surprisingly, Real Madrid fans believe that neither Keylor Navas nor Thibaut Courtois should leave the club. Both goalies enjoy the approval of Los Blancos' supporters, but what really stands out is that Navas is rated higher than the Belgian shot-stopper who sent him to the bench this season.
Question: Would you keep Keylor Navas/Thibaut Courtois around next season?
Defenders
Real Madrid fans seem to believe that Marcelo needs to leave the club this summer. The 33-year-old left back has been linked with a move to Juventus, but even if he is regarded as one of the best left backs in Los Blancos' history, those who answered the online poll believe that his time with the club must come to an end.
Question: Would you keep Marcelo around next season?
As for the other defenders, right back Dani Carvajal and left back Sergio Reguilón have the highest ratings (89%), followed surprisingly by Raphael Varane (81%). Captain Sergio Ramos has a 76% approval rating by the team's supporters, despite his reckless booking that made him miss the second leg against Ajax. Jesús Vallejo also earned negative reviews by Real Madrid fans, mainly due to the massive amount of injuries he picked up during the last couple of years.
Midfielders
There are two players that have negative ratings among Real Madrid fans, which hint a possible transfer for at least one of them. Toni Kroos' dip in form has not gone unnoticed to Los Blancos' supporters, and 60% of them want to see the German midfielder leave the club once the season ends. Uruguayan Fede Valverde is the other player with negative rating, as 51% of the team's fans would let him go in the offseason.
Question: Would you keep Toni Kroos around next season?
The highest-rated midfielder by Real Madrid fans is, surprisingly, Marcos Llorente, with an approval rating of 77%. The home-grown footballer surpassed Luka Modric's 75% rating to earn that honor. Real Madrid fans seem to expect more from Casemiro, who earned a 58% approval rating after what has been a lackluster season.
Strikers
Replacing Cristiano Ronaldo was not an easy task, and according to the poll's results, these players failed miserably. Karim Benzema and Mariano Díaz would be transferred by Real Madrid fans once the season ends, but the real story here is that almost no Real Madrid fan wants to see Gareth Bale's face at the Bernabeu anymore, as the Welsh footballer earned just an 8% approval rating.
Question: Would you keep Karim Benzema around next season?
Question: Would you keep Mariano around next season?
Question: Would you keep Gareth Bale around next season?
As for the rest of the strikers, nine out of ten Madridistas would keep Vinicius around, as the Brazilian earned a 90% approval rating. Marco Asensio earned a decent second place with a 75% rating, while Lucas Vázquez completed the podium with a 71% approval rating. Spanish outcast Isco would barely be given a chance to redeem himself, as only 56% of those who voted would keep him around.
So, according to these numbers, Real Madrid fans want Marcelo, Kroos and Bale gone. Only time will tell if Florentino Pérez and Co. listen to their requests.
