REAL MADRID will need full focus and unity to pull off a stunning Champions League comeback against Arsenal on Wednesday night.
But the Spanish giants are facing major unrest within the camp ahead of the massive quarter-final showdown.
Real Madrid find themselves surrounded by turmoil before their crucial Champions League second leg against Arsenal.
Kylian Mbappe added to the drama by getting sent off over the weekend.
In the first leg at the Emirates, the 15-time European kings were stunned, going 3-0 down after a second-half surge by Arsenal, featuring two sensational free-kicks from Declan Rice.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti urged for calm and focus going into the second leg at the Bernabeu. However, it appears that message hasn’t resonated with his high-profile squad.
Los Blancos managed to scrape a 1-0 victory over Alaves on Sunday, despite being reduced to ten men after a reckless tackle by Kylian Mbappe. The forward went in studs-up on Antonio Blanco and received a straight red card.
And that was only one of several disruptive incidents ahead of the Arsenal tie.
Reports in Spain suggest a fiery altercation occurred between Jude Bellingham and Antonio Rudiger during Friday’s training session.
El Chiringuito reports that ex-Chelsea defender Rudiger lunged into a rough challenge on Bellingham during a training game.
That prompted a sharp verbal reaction from the England midfielder, resulting in a heated exchange that forced their teammates to step in and cool things down.
Though the clash seemed intense, both players are believed to have moved on and settled the matter quickly.
Off the pitch, distractions continue to mount.
Luka Modric, the midfield maestro and veteran of Madrid’s many triumphs, is now involved in a new venture — a minority ownership in Championship side Swansea City.
Modric, 39, is reported to have agreed on a deal to purchase a stake in the Welsh club.
While the exact details of his investment — including the size and cost of the share — remain unclear, the Croatian icon will be joining a group that includes Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Nigel Morris, and Jason Cohen.
Despite his investment, Modric isn’t stepping away from playing and remains committed to continuing his career.
Still, such an off-field commitment might prove to be a distraction during a time when Madrid needs full attention on the pitch.
The team’s troubles don’t end there.
Ferland Mendy has officially been ruled out of the second leg due to a hamstring injury picked up before the first match. Spanish outlet AS reports that the defender has no chance of returning in time.
His absence adds to an already growing list of unavailable players.
Eduardo Camavinga is also out after being shown a red card during stoppage time at the Emirates.
Additionally, fitness concerns surround both Federico Valverde and David Alaba, with neither confirmed to be fully match-fit. Dani Ceballos is also highly unlikely to feature against his former club due to injury.
There is one piece of good news for Ancelotti’s side — Aurelien Tchouameni is back from suspension and available for selection.
Ahead of the high-stakes clash, Ancelotti referenced some of football’s greatest comebacks, noting that no result is ever truly final in the Champions League.
The legendary Italian pointed to the iconic 2017 turnaround by Barcelona, when they erased a 4-0 first-leg loss to Paris Saint-Germain to win 6-1 in the return leg — a match that gave rise to the term “remontada,” meaning comeback.
Ancelotti said: “Remontada? We will try.”
With tensions running high and several key players either missing or distracted, Real Madrid will need to summon all their championship pedigree to stage what would be another famous European night at the Bernabeu.
The Madrid faithful, ever passionate, will be expecting nothing less than a miracle.