It was a night to forget in Madrid Tuesday evening as Real Madrid lost 4-1 to Dutch side Ajax, ending a perfect 3-year run in the Champions League tournament.
Real Madrid have won the last three Champions League titles and four out of the last five. It has been an incredible dynasty Luka Modrić help build in the Spanish capital. However, all good things must come to an end.
In the span of one week, Real Madrid have been eliminated from the Copa del Rey (last week vs. Barcelona), a shot at the La Liga title (12 points behind Barcelona with 12 games remaining), and the Champions League Tuesday night to Ajax. Mighty Real Madrid have fallen from the summit of European football and will not capture a single trophy in the year 2019.
With that said, the second leg match versus Ajax was a symbolic changing of the guard – not only in European football – but in Europe’s best midfield as well. Luka Modrić had the year of his life in 2018, but there’s a new sheriff in town.
21 year-old Dutch/Ajax midfielder Frankie de Jong officially arrived Tuesday at the Bernabeu with his performance against not only the entire Real Madrid team – but Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modrić as well. De Jong made Modrić look silly on a few plays which could signal and symbolize a changing of the guard in Europe. Modrić is quietly entering into the twilight of his career while de Jong is ramping up for a dominant 10-year run.
Not only is de Jong the future; he may very well replace Ivan Rakitić in the Barcelona midfield, which could be as soon as this summer when he makes the switch over from Ajax. The only constant in life is change. And change is coming to Real Madrid.
They need it. But where does that out a 33 year-old Modrić?
de Jong makes Modrić miss multiple times
Kroos was so fkng lazy that game. Bogati.
@ Doug,
My apologies. You are right. I mixed up de Jong replacing Modric with Rakitic at Barcelona. Thanks for the heads up.
Kroos was indeed poor and slow and did nothing on defense. Kovacic was missed for sure and would have matched the pace of Ajax. Ramos is an idiot and hurt his team. Vicinius or whatever his name is fast but has no finish. Not sure why he was starting.
Modric best player on the field but Madrid was not hungry enough can’t do it by himself. What happened too Kros this year he is a shadow of himself?
Just shows how weak all the rest of the players are at Real Madrid and dependent on Modric.
Kovačić was missed as well.
Ramos with the bonehead second yellow .. like he is big timing Ajax?
Halilovic is still 22?
The loss is great news for us .. Modrić was being played too much .. and along side lazy scrubs like Kroos.
Now he can rest and recover for our up coming matches.
Also the National team is fun again for our boys.
It will be a nice break from their club seasons.
Curious who gets the hire at Real Madrid?
International break a good time to bring someone in.
isn’t he barca-bound, ahem?
Mixed grill, agree.
Modric did no look silly. Many people comment but didn’t watch the game. Modric was the best player for Madrid. De Jong didn’t even play that well, Tadic was much more impressive. Two posts by Madrid whereas Ajax had everything go their way. The symbolism of it all is exaggerated.
You do realize he is already joining
Barcelona this summer right?
I don’t know. He’s quickly approaching his mid-20s and hasn’t showed me anything yet.
Halilovic simply could do better twice-
need someone to unlock his potential power…