Real Madrid icon warns club over La Liga chances and identifies major weakness: ‘They offer no guarantees’

Real Madrid icon warns club over La Liga chances and identifies major weakness: ‘They offer no guarantees’ Real Madrid may have started Jose Mourinho’s reign with a Champions League victory, but player and director of football Pedja Mijatovic believes the team still has plenty to prove before it can be considered a serious La Liga contender. Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in the Champions League, yet the Santiago Bernabeu crowd made its frustration clear by booing some of the players during the match.  For Mijatovic, the reaction was not about what happened on the night. “I was surprised by them because we were winning, but it goes back two years.  “People are already angry about not winning any trophies in recent years and it doesn’t take much to make them boo. They’re not very happy,” he told El Larguero . Mijatovic, who played for Real Madrid between 1996 and 1999 before returning as the club’s director of football from 2006 to 2009, believes the fans have legitimate concerns about the current squad. The former striker said, “Real Madrid offer no guarantees that they have a squad capable of winning La Liga.” Mijatovic has warned Real Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) At the same time, he also pointed to “the behaviour of certain players who, at a particular moment, anger the fans. “It’s a lack of footballing quality, but the players have to carry on with their work despite having the fans against them, and Mourinho is quite clear on that,” he emphasised. Mijatovic sees early signs of Mourinho influence Mourinho’s return has brought a clear focus on organisation and discipline, and Mijatovic believes the Portuguese manager is already beginning to leave his mark. He said, “It’s early days, but you can sense a certain seriousness… Little by little, Mou will achieve what he wants: a solid, united team that’s lethal on the counter-attack.” That transformation, though, will not happen immediately. Mijatovic urged fans and observers to give the new project more time rather than reaching conclusions after a handful of fixtures. “We need to be patient. We shouldn’t judge them now based on just five matches played,” he advised. Real Madrid still missing a playmaker Mijatovic also identified what he believes remains the biggest footballing weakness in the squad: creativity from midfield. Mijatovic still feels Real Madrid lack a midfield organiser. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Bernardo Silva has been mentioned as a potential answer to Madrid’s lack of control and invention, but Mijatovic insisted the club must first make the most of the players already available. “Real Madrid have the potential to improve. There’s no point in lamenting the players who are no longer here and who have made history, such as Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos.  “We miss them… but where do we find players like these two? We must have faith in those who are already here and never compare them to Modrić and Toni Kroos,” he said. Mijatovic nevertheless believes Madrid are still missing a player capable of dictating games from the middle of the pitch. “I’m still missing a playmaker at Real Madrid… who could easily have been Rodri, but it wasn’t to be, so we have to look for one within the squad.” Lastly, the former Madrid director believes patience will be necessary, but the supporters will demand visible improvement. “Madrid can improve, but people are in a bit of a stir and protesting. And that will continue until the team shows something different,” he concluded.