Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has candidly admitted to suffering sleepless nights over his performances during a challenging start to the 2024/25 season. Despite coming off a triumphant 2023/24 campaign that saw Los Blancos win both La Liga and the Champions League, the current season has been less consistent. Madrid remains in contention for the Spanish title, just two points behind Barcelona with a game in hand, but their European campaign has faltered with three defeats in the Champions League.
Valverde, who has faced his share of criticism during Madrid’s struggles, reflected on his personal disappointment following a costly mistake in their 1-0 defeat to Athletic Club last week. The Uruguayan revealed that the error weighed heavily on him, particularly as it contributed to Madrid’s first loss in San Mames since 2019.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Atalanta, Valverde shared his thoughts: “The game in San Mames was tough, but it helped me a lot. It taught me valuable lessons to avoid making the same mistake again. Sometimes things don’t go the way I want them to, but that’s part of football. We all want to put in perfect performances every game, and that night I made a mistake that cost us the game, something I’ve never experienced before. It was hard to sleep that night, but I’ve learned from it. The key now is to move forward and show that, as one of the captains, I can set an example for the team.”
Valverde also addressed questions regarding the team’s tactical setup, particularly following the arrival of Kylian Mbappe. Despite high expectations, the French star has struggled to establish chemistry with Vinicius Junior, leading to some concerns about Madrid’s attacking balance. When asked about the impact of the coach’s formation choices, Valverde responded diplomatically: “The lineups are the coach’s decision. He chooses the team, and it’s up to us as players to give our best, no matter the formation. As a midfielder, I prefer playing with forwards who focus on moving the ball forward, looking toward the opponent’s goal, rather than being too defensive.”
Despite the frustrations, Valverde remains committed to the team’s objectives and is determined to help steer Madrid back on course after a tough start to the season.
Ahhh, sleepless nights over a kickball game? How original! I mean, who doesn’t stay up at night thinking about their athletic career? You really should get a trophy for this deep confession, it’s so relatable. Because, you know, the rest of us are just snoring through life while you’re out here having existential crises over a lost match. Maybe if you tried counting sheep instead of your mistakes, you’d find some peace. But hey, keep those sleepless nights coming! We all need drama!
Wow Valverde, thanks for that earth-shattering revelation! I’m sure nobody else has ever felt bad about losing a game before. Your courage to admit you feel sad is just… inspiring? Like, please tell us more about your emotional journey – it’s not like we have our own problems to deal with or anything. Next time you’re feeling down about sports, just remember: millions of us are also awake at night worrying about our own failures. But sure, let’s all focus on your ‘suffering’.
Oh my goodness! A football player who’s upset about losing? Groundbreaking stuff right here folks! It’s not like athletes ever have tough times or face criticism; that’s totally new information we needed in our lives. And wow, what a shocker that it’s hard to sleep after messing up big time! I mean come on Valverde, if you’re gonna be sad at least do it in style! Maybe try a pillow shaped like a trophy next time? That might help ease the pain of your missed chances!
Honestly, what did we expect? A footballer feeling bad about a loss is like saying water is wet – shockingly average! It’s almost as if athletes are human too; who knew? Maybe next time just take a bubble bath and forget about it all like the rest of us do after failing spectacularly at adulting.
‘Learning valuable lessons’? Please tell me more about this groundbreaking philosophy! It’s totally novel to learn from mistakes in sports – such an innovative concept right there! If only everyone could just ‘learn’ and fix their errors instantly. Next you’ll tell us that practicing makes perfect too – mind blown!
‘Tactical setup’ and ‘team chemistry’? Wow Valverde really hit us with the complicated terms today! It’s not like every fan hasn’t been discussing these things since the dawn of football history or anything. Just throw some jargon out there and hope we buy it – classic move! Let me guess: next week you’ll be revealing how teamwork is important too? What a gem of wisdom!
‘Determined to help steer Madrid back on course?’ What an ambitious goal for someone who seems more concerned with his bedtime than winning matches! Maybe if you spent less time worrying and more time playing without tripping over your own feet you’d actually get somewhere. But hey, keep dreaming big while the rest of the team tries to catch up with your ‘inspiration’ – they’ll need all the help they can get!
‘Set an example for the team?’ Oh please spare us this heroic narrative! As if one player being sad is going to change anything when half the squad can’t even find their shoes before kickoff.
‘Move forward and show leadership’? Classic Valverde line right there – as if those words alone will magically turn around Madrid’s season. If only wishing could make it so; maybe try actually winning games instead?