5 Things for Real Madrid Fans to Look Forward to in 2016/17 Season
Real Madrid fans certainly enjoyed the end of the 2015-16 season, winning the UEFA Champions League as they did in a penalty shootout against their nearest rivals, Atletico Madrid.
The celebrations that ensued as a result of their 11th European Cup success were memorable, but progress and success can never be allowed to sleep at Real, and the lure of challenging for further silverware means there is already much to look forward to in 2016-17.
Summer plans are afoot for reshaping the playing squad, and Zinedine Zidane will be in charge for his first full season, making Real once again one of the must-watch sides in Europe in the new campaign.
The Validation of Gareth Bale
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One of the biggest causes for excitement has to be the form and status of Gareth Bale.
The Welsh winger ended last season as one of the most important starters for Real Madrid, filling in on both sides as the team endured something of an injury crisis in attack but also being the man who came up in the biggest of moments to keep Real Madrid in the title race.
His performances against Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad won those matches single-handedly, and he was comfortably the most in-form of the front three as the season came to an end.
Over the summer, despite Bale not always being as individually sublime as he can be, he has been part of a Wales team that has exceeded all expectations at Euro 2016 and reached the semi-finals.
Bale's stock has been on the rise in 2016, and he will feel ever more confident he has the capacity—physically, mentally and technically—to be a huge force for Real next season.
Maybe he'll even take a few more free-kicks too.
Zinedine Zidane's Continuing Evolution
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Never mind just Real Madrid fans, this should be a reason for intrigue for all football fans: Is Zidane the real deal as a manager, or was it his status at the club and calming influence that helped the team through an easy route to the Champions League final?
Both those traits are part of his overall managerial makeup, of course, but they are exclusive to being at Real—they wouldn't translate to Manchester City or Bayern Munich for example, whereas his man management, his tactical insight and in-game management all would.
So far, Zidane has been largely reluctant to stray from 4-3-3 as a starting system and has favoured a strongest-XI approach whenever possible. In his first full year, will he make changes more frequently? Will substitutes be used earlier in lieu of rotating the starters? Can he alter the flow of matches when Real are under pressure, which he didn't show much adeptness of being able to in his first few months?
There are many questions to be answered of Zidane's level from the dugout, but the only way to reach those answers is by giving him game after game to manage through and taking an overall view. So far, there can be largely no complaints, but building a team is made of many aspects, of which bringing the fractured squad of last November together is just one.
No Power Struggle
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That fractured squad mentioned, which Zidane has largely been able to stick back together, came from a three-way split at the club a year ago. Four ways, if you include the fans, though they tended to side with one of the other three: president Florentino Perez, egocentric as ever, Rafa Benitez, unwanted by many but brought in as head coach, and the players in general but particularly the likes of Isco and James Rodriguez, who publicly spoke about unhappiness.
That's all gone.
Perez doubtless has respect for Zidane, but more to the point, even he has enough awareness to realise a hero from his playing days, now a hero in the dugout, holds far more sway over the fans than Perez himself can ever hope to claim.
The president will give the Frenchman the space and funds he needs to build a team, the fans are (for now, results pending) firmly behind the team and the players outside of the regular XI know they can choose to either leave or work hard to regain a spot. There's no arguing with a man of Zidane's status. It'll be his way or gone for the troubled backups.
For a long time, Real Madrid (like several big clubs, it should be noted) have had divisions in the fanbase, but for the start of 2016-17 at least, they will be united.
Signings That Make Tactical Sense
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Nobody should doubt Real Madrid will whip out the chequebook and the faulty fax machine to sign a Galactico at some point this summer, but the pleasing thing from a team-building perspective is the linked players largely make sense.
Alvaro Morata has returned, whether to play or bring profit has yet to be determined, but a second striker who works the channels and leaves gaps centrally for the wide forwards to exploit is an absolute necessity. Marca linked Leicester City's N'Golo Kante with a move and, while Casemiro is already in place as a defensive midfielder, more physical power and extra cover is a great thing for the team to have.
Real could also play with a double pivot—both Casemiro and Kante—on the odd occasion, giving a middle platform solid, mobile and reliable enough to allow four out-and-out attacking options to run riot if injury or circumstance required it.
One or two other deals may come to light in time, but it's refreshing to see players rumoured to interest Real who would add value and depth to the squad rather than simply being the biggest, newest, most expensive names on the market.
Their Best Chance in Years of Winning La Liga
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One La Liga trophy in eight seasons. That is the statistic Zidane and Co. should be hell-bent on altering in 10 months' time.
It's far too long for the biggest club in world football to be going without dominating their domestic league—or even infrequently winning it. Yes, they're competing against one of the best Barcelona teams of all time. Yes, Atletico Madrid are probably in the best period of their entire history.
But that's what Spanish football has always been: competitive at the top end, demanding of near perfection to be crowned the best.
Real Madrid should be capable or at least close to it, and the end of last season showed (in results, if not always in performances) Real have managed to temporarily close the gap. But it was still there. Beginning the new campaign on an even footing with Barca and Atletico, and with all the other aspects lined up nicely, 2016-17 surely represents Real Madrid's biggest opportunity for some time to lift the title.
The players are good enough. The manager has shown he can get results. Progression is key, and luck will play a part, of course, but Real look well-placed to mount an offensive to be crowned Spain's finest.
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