Real Madrid is shaken, even sunk. The 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in London has left the white team very shaken. Now they are obliged to an epic comeback at Santiago Bernabéu if they want to stay alive in the Champions League.
The team's image was poor. They were outmatched in intensity, in play, and in pride. But what hurt the fans the most was not just the result: it was the silence.
Silence in Mixed Zone
After the final whistle, while the Madrid fans were looking for answers, the heavyweights of the locker room disappeared. No one came out to face the music, neither Modric, nor Lucas Vázquez, nor Vinicius.
The locker room closed ranks, they hid. Such a tough defeat needed explanations. But they didn't come from those who have the most voice.
Raúl Asencio, One of the Few Who Spoke
The one who did step up to the microphones was Raúl Asencio. The young footballer, with just a few matches with the first team, stepped forward. He put the badge on his chest and spoke:
"This isn't over. We have a match at home. At Bernabéu, we're already thinking about it."
His words were brave. They tried to calm the spirits. But inside the locker room, they didn't sit well at all.
The Fans, Up in Arms
Social media were ablaze, and it's no wonder. Many fans didn't look kindly on Asencio speaking on behalf of the team; some interpreted it as unnecessary exposure. Others, as a betrayal.
The phrase circulating in Valdebebas says it all: "They don't have the guts and send the kid."
A mix of shame and anger runs through social media. Because while the leaders remained silent, a kid barely 20 years old was the only one to face the media storm.
A Comeback... Without Unity?
Bernabéu is preparing for another magical night. But the feeling is strange. Madrid has experienced many comebacks, yes, but almost always from unity, from collective strength.
Today, the locker room seems broken. The glances are averted. The tension, at its peak.
Raúl Asencio only wanted to help. To be brave. But in an environment where silence weighs more than words, they've left him alone.
A New Case on the Horizon?
It wouldn't be the first time Real Madrid turns a young player into a scapegoat. It happened to Jesé, it happened to Odegaard. Now it could be Asencio's turn, all for speaking, all for not hiding.