What’s Real Madrid’s secret?

A core consisting of experienced and brilliant guys like Carvahal, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Ronaldo and Benzema with excellent rotation players like Asensio, Bale, Isco, Kovacic and Vazquez.

That, and of course a lot of knowhow in actually winning the thing. I’m not buying in to the idea that they’re lucky. If you win the CL 4/5 times, you’re just the best at it.

Nobody says they're that lucky. But in a way luck does plays a part as in no stupid red, no stupid blunder, and their first 4-1 over atletico does depends on the first goal. Just like us against bayern and madrid, you dont need to be cursed but a bad luck (nani and raphael red card) could change alot of things in a knock out match
 
They know how to win and they have a team full of winners. You can't buy that mentality you either have it or you don't.
 
Buy very good footballers.

When Varane, Modric, Kroos, Benzema, Bale were on the move there were folks on here wishing we would sign them.

I’m not sure the same could be said on whitecafe about some of the signings we’ve made...
 
World class players in all position. Having players who could win games on their own in Bale and Ronaldo.
 
Carvajal xxxxx Ramos Marcelo
Kroos xxxxxx Modric
Bale/Isco xxxxxx Cr7
They have a core of 7/8 players that you would struggle to find something better elsewhere. Sure you can insert another cb for Varane, Kante for Casemiro. Messi..But they are already the top of the top in terms of talent.
 
Good team + great managers+ cheating+ luck

Ridiculous standards.

The way they treat players and managers might be hard to stomach for some, but it works. Its a club obsessed with success and it shows.

They are different. And it works for them.

These. The first quote, it's applied to any club / national team, it's not exclusive for Real Madrid. You don't win elite elimination tournaments like Champions League, Euros or World Cup without having luck in the right moments, plus a bit of dodgery -knowing how to compete, which is very different to how well you play, no matter the style you play, it's what makes a difference between "adult" and "kid" footballers-.

The second quote, and I'd like to expand it as a spanish to show my point of how in the biggest part of the globe, but more concretely by the brits in an exaggerated way, don't understand why the "spanish whistling and booing thing" at all, they don't simply get it, it's a lack of complete awareness about it. You can approve it or not, but it's the way the spanish have to ask "guts" to the players and courage: it's a way the spanish have to ask respect for them, for the public, to the players. Public goes first, players next. "They" are the club, the public is. The players can be changed, "they are really well paid to stand for whatever the public asks" as the common supporter here says. They don't do it because they like to moan about each little thing, but because they demand the best in each concrete case, not only in the bigger clubs, but also in the "middle ones", some of them historical. If Valencia or Sevilla don't enter the Champions League, it's a terrible season. If Athletic de Bilbao, Villarreal, Celta, etc etc doesn't enter into Europa League or doen't even show a "fight" for it, the coach will be sacked most probably, whether at some point of the same season or at the end of it. It's a matter of ridiculous standards that in lots of cases crash really interesting mid-term projects on paper in their first season, but hey, it works in lots of cases.

Also, you may hate him or love him, but Florentino Pérez has been brilliant in his second run at the front of the club. Yeah, they almot didn't win La Liga all these years, but who cares, all that matters to Real Madrid fans is winning the Champions League, because that also ruins / nullify the season of Barça whatever they do. Champions League is what makes you reach a "global" prestige / publicizing / money / players / social media consumers.
 
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The institution is above the players, the players respect Zidane because they've grown up watching him on tv, Zidane's probably still better than them in training, they stay calm, very calm.
 
1: They have a core squad: a number of players who are playing at Real for years (Modric, Kroos, Ronaldo, Marcelo etc)
2: They know how to win: they have a lot of experience with finals (not only in club football)
3: They are willing to do what it takes, it's about winning (Salah vs Ramos last night, look how Ramos hooked Salah, unfortunate or... ;))
 
We played Barcelona, they played Liverpool. That’s the difference.
 
Referees and luck, at least this year
A really strange way to the trophy

No offense, but that's nonsense.

They have a fantastic team, with quality in each position. Sure EVERY team who wins the CL need some luck to a certain degree, but luck don't win you 3 titles in a row.

They haven't won their domestic league in 6 seasons.

They won it in 2017.
 
You are aware that the Spanish government bought Real Madrid's training ground to bail them out of a massive debt, presumably?

You have no idea what you are even talking about.

Their old training ground(built 55 years ago) is now situated in one of the most important avenues of the city of Madrid, and the most exclusive areas of Madrid have a higher price just like in other cities.
 
Their secret is a level of individual quality that is unparalleled. I don't mean here world class players as Barcelona and Bayern for example have that. We also had that 10 years ago and other teams like Chelsea, Juventus, PSG or City also enjoyed a spell of world class players at one time or another. The difference with this Real side though is the number of match winners. The number of players who can win a game out of nowhere is something I have never seen before. Lahm is a brilliant full back for example, one of the best ever maybe, but he will never win a game through an individual action the way Marcelo would. The same applies when comparing Piqué, Rio and Ramos for example. All world class but only one is a consistent match winner. Real have 6 or 7 of those and the odds are one of them will pop up with that game changing goal or dribble. It was Bale yesterday, Marcelo against Bayern, Ronaldo against Juventus, Ronaldo last year's final, Isco against Atlético with that slick move to set up Benzema. It's just too much.

Their weakness however is a clear lack of tactical structure. Their players are too good to ever even want that. It's the reason they loved playing for Ancelotti and Zidane but hated someone like Benitez. It is also the reason they go too often on those horrible runs that cost them the league. They can be incredibly inconsistent when their players are not switched on which is very common in those mundane league games. I think they really should not be used as an example to build upon for two reasons; first, it is impossible to assemble a squad like that, they could because they had a sway that no other team does which was behind them attracting Kroos, Ronaldo and Bale. They also could because they invested at a time where there was less competition financially which is not the case today. The second reason is that building a team that way encourages tactical indiscipline which is simply very difficult to get away with in a league campaign and even in the CL when you don't have the aura and experience of Real Madrid.
 
They spent big before the transfer market went crazy. Last big ticket signing they made was James, a couple of years back. Ronaldo cost them £80m, now a half decent player like Savic is going at that rate if not higher. They will have to spend big soon like Barca have done.
 
So that is 3 on the trot, 4 in the last 5 seasons that is more than United have done in their history. 13 in total, 6 more than the next best AC Milan and 8 more than team's that play Champions League on a regular basis. 8 more than the best English team and a whole 10 more than United. What makes Real Madrid so bloody good in Europe.

Ronaldo
 
They don't accept mediocrity in any aspect of their club. Their fans can seem fickle and spoilt at times but by demanding nothing short of world class at all times - they get it.

We've seen here on the caf the split between those who want more and those who are happy to settle for alright. In 5 years we've turned from a club who demanded excellence, to one which accepts mediocrity.
 
There business model is buy superstars.....superstars have big ego's which lends itself to performing well in glamorous cup competitions and not so much every week against league minnows....It says everything how those ego's cannot even be put to once side moments after winning a CL final!! Back up their model with a penchant for selling great players just as quickly as they acquire them and everyone knows you have to perform out of your skin to be part of a trophy machine which will give you a CV like no other can for each season you manage to stay in favour there.
 
A really good squad and incredible amounts of look/favoritism by the refs. They have won it three times in a row, but i don't rate them as highly as you would imagine. I rate Pep's Barca much higher. That's mostly because of how they won the titles. Last year was at least dodgy against Bayern, but this year takes the cake. Beats the Chelsea triumph in terms of ridiculousness in my opinion.

The Offside goal against PSG, the Neymar injury, Higuain being Higuain in that 3:0 and then Real being awarded that penalty, getting outplayed by Bayern for almost 180 minutes but getting through because of ridiculous individual mistakes and a weak ref and finally that clusterfeck of a final.
From the 7 goals they scored in the semis and the final, 4 were basically own goals.

You do know Pep only won 2 UCL titles in 4 years right ?

1 of them has the biggest scandal in club football history included (2009 Bridge scandal)

The other one (2011) has multiple episodes including the famous Van Persie red card when Arsenal were defeating Barcelona.

So this "mostly because of how they won the titles" is BS...
 
Being a fantastic football team is their secret.

Massive ground, great city and weather, with a massive history. They were protected by their government as a national treasure at their one time of troubles in the early 2000’s and they have 100% had help from UEFA in terms of their draws in the past - but they are always going to be a massively important side
 
This. We bash their fans expectations at every turn, but it’s that arrogant belief that the CL is “their” tournament that permeates the club top to bottom.
Having that deep and talented squad helps too.

Exactly, does anyone think Real Madrid would have had fellaini, young, lingard just to name a few survive the club for 2 years, let alone 5 to 8, they would not even have any of Jose mourinho after the Sevilla game on what he said, they would have kicked him out the door, they here to win we not. Our luck we had with Ferguson we have had this mentality we should not treat players or manager like shit if they crap at their job. It’s ironic with Ronaldo he never felt loved with the fans at Madrid, yet united fans he did yet Madrid fans enjoyed the very best years of Ronaldo. Difference between us and them, our clown of a board are here to make money, Madrid are designed to win no matter what. Our mediocrity started this time 10 years ago, and look where both clubs are today
 
The competition was not strong enough this season. Just look at the goals that were gifted to them in the semi finals and final this year. 4 comical mistakes in the two most important games of the season. Of course you can only beat what's in front of you but the competition has to be stronger next season.

Having said that you don't win 3 CL straight just with luck. They are a very good team that has the strongest winning mentality and big game players I've ever seen. No matter what happens they find a way to win. Perhaps they are below Barcelona 2009-2012 because that team had an aura of total invincibility. This Real team sometimes will let you into games but Barcelona completely dominated teams and were aesthetically a lot more pleasing on the eye however this Real Madrid would probably find a way to win if they ever played and this is the biggest compliment you can give.
 
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The other thing that I realise that Barca, Real, and most of the spanish clubs have is the ability to tap into the South American market where there are absolute bargains. These players do not find it that difficult to integrate to life in Spain due to cultural and language similarities. After a few years in Europe, they develop into world class players.
 
historically the biggest fish in the pond since football went global after ww2, with the many many many things coming with this status
 
The other thing that I realise that Barca, Real, and most of the spanish clubs have is the ability to tap into the South American market where there are absolute bargains. These players do not find it that difficult to integrate to life in Spain due to cultural and language similarities. After a few years in Europe, they develop into world class players.
Also have a good scouting network and they sell players that dont hit the curve well from their B team to all over Europe. Nice academy also that attract kids from all over. Less tax?
 
They have super players and in even games they can win thanks to their super players on the bench. How many teams could put Bale on the bench in a CL final?

For me their big weakness is that their lowest level is much lower than for example. Barcelona’s. I have seen many matches this season where they lose 2 out of 3 points because players like Marcelo are nonchalant and play football a la beach style. But in the most important matches, they all seem to perform at their best level, both individually and as a team.
 
Incredible, expensive team. Definitely on the decline now though.
What do you mean with expensive? If we compare with United, Bale and Ronaldo were both in the level of Pogba, but the rest of the team cost the same as an average player like Lindelof or cheaper. It is not even close to Barcelona, PSG or City. However I believe we will see some crazy new transfers in the coming years. Zidane have tried to prepare the youths to take over but they will need some new super players for sure.
 
I actually think they underperform in terms of performances. Obviously the results speak for themself but every time I watch them, they don't really do much, you feel safe with them having the ball and then bang they score out of nothing. With their midfield and attack, I'd expect them to boss games more like Barca did with Pep.
 
Their player are tactically astute. Yesterday they realize Liverpool isn't going to play from their back and use long ball instead so they decide to stop pressing them high ( both Benzema and Ronaldo in Madrid field ) this help them defend better and then goddess of luck bless them with Salah having a stupid injury ( 99 out of 100 ocassion , player wouldn't get an injury ) and they start dominating the game. What happen with Karius is also a mystery , maybe someone jinxed him before the game.
 
Great players.
Good manager.
A culture of playing only attractive football that long term will never be compromised.
A culture of rewarding failure with the sack.
A culture of buying ready made big names.
The most illustrious history with players of any world football club which sets high standards for anyone who wears the shirt and brings in the biggest names.
The European cup/CL being not just a possibility but a stated aim at the beginning of every season.
 
Buying the best players helps big time. Just look at their bench compared to Liverpool in the EC final.
 
They don't accept mediocrity in any aspect of their club. Their fans can seem fickle and spoilt at times but by demanding nothing short of world class at all times - they get it.

We've seen here on the caf the split between those who want more and those who are happy to settle for alright. In 5 years we've turned from a club who demanded excellence, to one which accepts mediocrity.

This is the key and why I find it weird people have a problem with us demanding more from our club.
 
Madrid have great players, winners, a smart manager, etc. but have been very lucky too. A lot of people underestimate the role of luck in sport, business, life, etc. It's big. With a little more luck Atleti would have won it in 2014 and 2016.
 
Real Marid's secret? Just look at their squad. Their bench players would be starters anywhere in the world.