Real Madrid Lost 2-1 Against Betis at Benito Villamarín, dropping three points that could be crucial in the fight for LaLiga. After the match, Manolo Lama, journalist and commentator on COPE, didn't hold back, being very critical of two players in particular: Thibaut Courtois and Tchouaméni.
Speaking about the 1-1 scored by Betis, Manolo Lama was blunt. "Incredible that with a goalkeeper almost 6 ft. 7 in. (2 meters) tall and a pivot 6 ft. 3 in. (1.90 meters) tall, someone can head the ball alone in the small area," he stated.
This statement has been well-received by Madrid fans who, unlike Manolo Lama, have focused particularly on Tchouaméni. Returning to his favorite position as a midfielder, he didn't perform well and left many doubts, later positioning himself in the center of the defense.
Real Madrid loses against Betis and complicates its life in LaLiga
This defeat against Betis is not trivial for a Real Madrid that is in a three-way fight for LaLiga. It has dropped to third place in the championship, with 54 points. These are the same points that Barcelona has, but with one match still to play, and 2 less than Atlético, which won its subsequent match.
Madrid can't afford many more mistakes in a fierce battle, which also coincides with the Champions League and Copa del Rey competitions. Ancelotti scolded his team, angry for having missed a golden opportunity by losing to Betis.
What's coming for Real Madrid
Real Madrid doesn't have an easy schedule ahead after losing to Betis. The next match will be a Champions League game against Atlético, and in between these two matches, there will be Rayo Vallecano. After that, they will face Villarreal and Leganés.
Many things are at stake during this March, and Real Madrid is not in its best form. To this, we must add the recent injury of Ceballos and the suspension of Bellingham, key factors in the defeat against Betis.
Improvement is needed in defense. As Manolo Lama has pointed out, it's also necessary for everyone to be more involved in the back part of the field. This will be crucial to compete for everything, because there are plenty of quality forwards and goals up front...