Comments on the part of former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher have piqued widespread attentions in Madrid today.
This comes after the Englishman revealed his opinion that Carlo Ancelotti’s Real should be considered as outsiders to go all the way in this season’s edition of the Champions League.
Los Blancos, of course, are fresh off booking their spot in the last eight of European football’s elite club competition.
To say that the capital giants looked convincing on their way to as much, however, would be something of a stretch.
Faced with RB Leipzig in the Last-16, Real struggled over the course of both legs, and had only the profligacy of their German opponents in front of goal to thank for an eventual 2-1 aggregate triumph.
Post-match on Wednesday, the Spanish heavyweights, in turn, were the targets of criticism on the part of fans, pundits, and even their own manager.
And one such critic whose assessment of Real has since turned heads throughout the game, comes in the form of the aforementioned Jamie Carragher.
Speaking as part of his punditry role for CBS Sports, ex-defender Carragher pulled no punches, in suggesting that, based on their current level, Los Merengues should be considered as ‘a long way short’ of the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Inter Milan:
“The aura of the Bernabeu and Real Madrid probably get them through,” he began. “I do feel they’re a long way short of certainly Manchester City, and maybe Inter Milan and Arsenal. I don’t think they’re up there when it comes to the best teams in Europe right now.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
