Sunday's defeat in El Clasico all-but sealed the Blancos' fate in the title race, so how should they go about regaining their crown in 2023-24?
Franck Kessie's 92nd-minute winner for Barcelona against Real Madrid on Sunday did more than just presumptively wrap up the Spanish title for the Blaugrana. The jubilation of the Barca players in the aftermath of the midfielder's strike signified the start of something new, the first act for what could become the new dominant side in La Liga.
And that leaves Real Madrid playing catch up. It is no longer a job for Madrid to get back to their old ways. They now need to get better.
Los Blancos seem to be caught between two eras. The likes of Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos don't have long left at the top of the game. Aurelien Tchouameni, Rodrygo and Eduardo Camavinga, meanwhile, still need to develop. In the dugout, there have been signs that manager Carlo Ancelotti's magic is running out – at least domestically.
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A summer of change seems likely, with new faces likely to enter and some old names cleared out. But what specifically do they need to do?
GOAL takes a look at how Madrid could catch Barcelona next year…
Getty ImagesSack Carlo Ancelotti
It is unfair to fire a manager after just one trophyless season. Coaches deserve time and opportunities to revamp their system.
At Madrid, though, managers do not get time. They must get results. And given that clear criteria, it feels like Ancelotti's time at the Bernabeu is up.
The Italian is a decorated manager, with an immaculate pedigree. He is the only manager to win all of Europe's 'Big Five' leagues. He has revived a number of struggling sides, while his charisma and influence have outlasted the trendy tactical changes that have come to dominate European football.
But now, the party is over. Madrid can still be an excellent cup side under Ancelotti, but it simply cannot be sustained over a 38-game season anymore. The truth is, Madrid have stagnated as a team.
They are on pace for the same exact points total as last campaign, while Barca have improved immeasurably. Consistency is no longer good enough, Madrid need excellence. And perhaps a familiar face can bring that…
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesHire Zinedine Zidane (again)
Really? Zizou again?
Zidane has been out of a job since he left Santiago Bernabeu two years ago, and most assumed that he was waiting around for the France job. But now, Didier Deschamps has penned a new deal, and seems likely to be overseeing the national team until 2026.
Zidane is a patient man. Still, four years is a long time.
Twice, he has taken the helm at Madrid when the club needed a boost. The club legend has developed a penchant for lifting Los Blancos from relative mediocrity into title-winning form. He should be given the opportunity to do so again.
There are other coaches out there. Thomas Tuchel will inevitably be linked if Ancelotti is let go; Antonio Conte will certainly be looked at, too (especially if he actually has money to spend!); and Mauricio Pochettino might even be in contention.
But Madrid is a results-driven proposition. For the short term, the Spanish giants need to bring in someone who knows how to get the club back to the top. Zidane is that man.
GettyClear out veterans like Toni Kroos & Dani Carvajal
Real Madrid do not need a rebuild – all the pieces of a competitive team are there. Instead, they need to refresh.
The Blancos have been good at it recently, letting the likes of Sergio Ramos and Casemiro walk in order to bring new faces into the fold. Kroos and Carvajal should be next.
Kroos seems more likely to go at this point. He admitted a few months ago that he wanted to stay at the club on merit, and his performances haven't exactly been up to par for a Real regular. One only has to look at the way he was played off the park by Sergi Roberto in the Clasico to see that his days in Madrid are numbered.
Carvajal is in a similar situation. The right-back is immensely experienced, and can still contribute, but his defensive numbers are concerning, especially with his burst of pace fading with old age.
He could stick around, especially considering Madrid lack of senior depth at the position, but he certainly shouldn't be a regular anymore.
GettySign a midfielder
There is allegedly an English midfielder on the market who might be quite good…
It's hard to remember a transfer saga more open than Jude Bellingham's. One week, he is Liverpool bound, the next, the Reds can't afford him. Manchester United have been in and out of the race, while Manchester City's immense funds will always keep them in the conversation.
Madrid, though, have been a constant. They have reportedly already met with Bellingham's father on at least one occasion, and seem the only real club in continental Europe that could lure the midfielder away from Borussia Dortmund.
It makes sense, too. With Modric's star slowly waning and Kroos on the way out, Madrid need a box-to-box No.8 to work with Tchouameni and Camavinga. Bellingham appears to balance the midfield trio almost perfectly.
There are other, albeit less intriguing, names on the market, such as Ruben Neves, Gabri Veiga, Kouadio Kone and Moises Caicedo. But if Madrid want to go straight back to the top, Bellingham is the guy to bring in.