The legend of Real Madrid, Luis Figo, assured this Friday that the internal problems of the white team cannot be solved with a “heavy-handed” coach and defended that success in the club depends on knowing how to manage the locker room and the egos of the stars.
During an event in Barcelona related to an agreement between Duracell� and LaLiga�, the former Portuguese player analyzed the current Madrid situation a few days before the classic match against FC Barcelona.
“At Real Madrid the heavy hand does not work,” said Figo, who gave as an example the successful cycles of Carlo Ancelotti, Vicente del Bosque and Zinedine Zidane.
According to the Portuguese, the next coach of the white team must meet several key conditions: “Know about football, have common sense, know the club and the environment,” in addition to having the ability to manage strong personalities within the locker room.
Figo also spoke about the recent incident between Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde, in which the Uruguayan suffered a head injury. The Portuguese downplayed the drama of the situation and assured that these types of conflicts occur in highly competitive teams.
“Managing 30 people is not easy and frustration often leads to committing actions that you should not,” he explained.
Asked about a possible return of José Mourinho to the Madrid bench, Figo avoided confirming rumors, although he showed his support for his compatriot.
“José is a friend of mine and I wish all my friends the best. If your happiness is coaching Madrid, you are welcome,” he commented.
Regarding Sunday’s classic at the Spotify Camp Nou, the former soccer player warned that Real Madrid can never be considered dead, even in a complicated season.
“You should never underestimate Real Madrid. Anything can happen regardless of whether the team is better or worse,” he said. In addition, he recalled that although LaLiga “has already been decided”, the merengue club “is risking its image and dignity.”
Figo also had words of praise for Barcelona’s campaign and highlighted the performance of the young people who emerged from La Masia despite the Catalan club’s financial problems.
Finally, he spoke about Portugal’s aspirations in the 2026 World Cup and assured that Cristiano Ronaldo will face the tournament with maximum motivation as it is probably his last World Cup.
