Taken via: AS
Against Zaragoza, Essien and Modric broke a run of almost 16 games without a Real Madrid midfielder getting a goal, clearly indicating that the team relies too heavily on their forwards.
"It's good news that our central midfielders scored," Emilio Butragueño said after yesterday's game against Zaragoza. Real Madrid's director of External Relations knows that 'los blancos' need to share the responsibility throughout the side and cannot keep relying on the front line. Until yesterday, when both Essien and Modric finally got their names on the score sheet, the goals for Mourinho's team had come from Cristiano (11), Higuaín (7), Di María (2), Benzema (1) Callejón (1) and Pepe (1). In Europe it is much the same story - Cristiano (5) and Benzema (2) - with only Marcelo managing to help out from the back, and in the Copa Kaká and José Rodríguez played their part this week after coming up with a goal each.
Essien was the first midfielder to 'grab a goal' this season as he put the ball in the back of the net against Zaragoza in the last minute. This, the first goal by a midfielder in 1,439 minutes, was soon followed by Modric's effort in stoppage time. Mourinho praised them both after the game; "I'm glad they were rewaded for their efforts because the job they do is not easy." The Portuguese coach also stressed that the midfield should also chip in on the goal front and the team should not be so heavily reliant on the forwards.
Maybe the key lies in pushing Khedira further forward, as he has done with Germany, or let Xabi Alonso take the occasional free-kick instead of leaving it all down to Cristiano. Modric's natural role is normally further forward, sometimes in the hole, but he has been forced to play in central midfield due to injuries and suspensions. Özil is obviously another outlet as he tirelessly works to get into attacking positions and not only provides assists for others - last season he scored four goals, six the season before, but this time around he is yet to get off the mark.
Mourinho's aim is for Madrid to have numerous attacking options and not be so 'Cristiano-dependent'. Last season, Madrid had 14 different goalscorers in the league, the season before 13. Xabi Alonso has only scored on four occasions for Madrid, but for Real Sociedad he managed nine and for Liverpool he was on target 14 times. Mou wants him to shoot from range more often. Khedira scored 14 goals in four years for Stuttgart, but while at the Bernaabéu he has only managed two in three seasons. Essien, meanwhile, found the net 17 times for Chelsea (during one season he scored six) and only went one campaign without getting on the score sheet when he was out with a lengthy injury (he only started ten times that season). Modric is also no stranger to scoring. While at Dinamo Zagreb he scored 13 times in one season and at Spurs managed an average of three goals a season.
Against Zaragoza, Essien and Modric broke a run of almost 16 games without a Real Madrid midfielder getting a goal, clearly indicating that the team relies too heavily on their forwards.
"It's good news that our central midfielders scored," Emilio Butragueño said after yesterday's game against Zaragoza. Real Madrid's director of External Relations knows that 'los blancos' need to share the responsibility throughout the side and cannot keep relying on the front line. Until yesterday, when both Essien and Modric finally got their names on the score sheet, the goals for Mourinho's team had come from Cristiano (11), Higuaín (7), Di María (2), Benzema (1) Callejón (1) and Pepe (1). In Europe it is much the same story - Cristiano (5) and Benzema (2) - with only Marcelo managing to help out from the back, and in the Copa Kaká and José Rodríguez played their part this week after coming up with a goal each.
Essien was the first midfielder to 'grab a goal' this season as he put the ball in the back of the net against Zaragoza in the last minute. This, the first goal by a midfielder in 1,439 minutes, was soon followed by Modric's effort in stoppage time. Mourinho praised them both after the game; "I'm glad they were rewaded for their efforts because the job they do is not easy." The Portuguese coach also stressed that the midfield should also chip in on the goal front and the team should not be so heavily reliant on the forwards.
Maybe the key lies in pushing Khedira further forward, as he has done with Germany, or let Xabi Alonso take the occasional free-kick instead of leaving it all down to Cristiano. Modric's natural role is normally further forward, sometimes in the hole, but he has been forced to play in central midfield due to injuries and suspensions. Özil is obviously another outlet as he tirelessly works to get into attacking positions and not only provides assists for others - last season he scored four goals, six the season before, but this time around he is yet to get off the mark.
Mourinho's aim is for Madrid to have numerous attacking options and not be so 'Cristiano-dependent'. Last season, Madrid had 14 different goalscorers in the league, the season before 13. Xabi Alonso has only scored on four occasions for Madrid, but for Real Sociedad he managed nine and for Liverpool he was on target 14 times. Mou wants him to shoot from range more often. Khedira scored 14 goals in four years for Stuttgart, but while at the Bernaabéu he has only managed two in three seasons. Essien, meanwhile, found the net 17 times for Chelsea (during one season he scored six) and only went one campaign without getting on the score sheet when he was out with a lengthy injury (he only started ten times that season). Modric is also no stranger to scoring. While at Dinamo Zagreb he scored 13 times in one season and at Spurs managed an average of three goals a season.
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