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Few things in the world are as tough as attaining consistency in football. To play at the very top level week in week out, defeating opponents and registering victories is no mean feat. It is the hallmark of champions, it is the attribute of a great team.
Only the best sides in the world have the ability to perform consistently over the years and it is with their experience and long record of success that ultimately transforms them into the biggest names of football. However, even the best can be struck by the loss of form.
European Football is host to some of the biggest clubs in the world of football. These teams with their long and rich history have been dominating the beautiful game for decades or at least competing year and year out.
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But there are no assurances in football, success is dependent on performance and performance alone and as such, few of these clubs find themselves in a tricky situation this season. Whether they can drag themselves out of the spot can only be confirmed as the season progresses, but as of now, let us take a look at the 5 big clubs of European Football who have been struggling so far this season.
#5 AS Roma
Having finished third in the Serie A last season and reaching the UCL semifinals, AS Roma was supposed to launch a title challenge this time around. However, Roma's season has failed to kick off in the Serie A so far.
They are currently 7th in the League and have won just 5 of the 13 games played so far in the league. They have also lost 4 games already and with 19 points on board, are 18 points adrift of league leaders Juventus, having scored 22 goals and conceded 16.
The Serie A side started the season with a win over Torino but went without a win for the next 4 games. They returned to winning ways against Frosinone, and won the next 2 games as well, before another win-less run of three games. While they won against Sampdoria before the International Break, Roma lost last weekend's game against Udinese.
It is this lack of consistency that has been costly for Roma this season. In the Champions League though, AS Roma have been in a completely different form, winning 3 of their 5 games and already sealing progression to the knockout stages.
While the season is not over yet, Roma will need nothing short of a miracle to replicate their league standings from last season, come May.
#4 Real Madrid
Any club in the world will struggle to come to terms with one of the best players in the world leaving. When the manager who has won then three back to back Champions League titles leaves as well, things become a lot harder.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid in the summer to join Juventus, and with Zidane departing as well, everyone expected Real to have trouble to cope with his departure. The fact that Real Madrid did not sign a like for like replacement for Ronaldo did raise a lot of eyebrows, yet, under new coach Julen Lopetegui, the Spanish Giants made a strong start to the season, winning 4 of the first 5 games in LaLiga.
However, after the defeat to Sevilla in the 6th game in LaLiga, Madrid lost 3 of the next 4 games, including a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Barcelona at the Nou Camp, which cost Lopetegui his job.
Santiago Solari took over the mantle after his departure, and even though he started with three wins in his first three games, Real lost again last weekend, a 3-0 loss away to SD Eibar.
As of now, Real Madrid are 6th in the LaLiga table, with 20 points after 13 games, even though they are just 6th points adrift of Sevilla at the top of the table. They have scored 20 goals, but conceded 19 already, which is the crux of all their troubles. On the other hand, in the Champions League, Real Madrid have been firing on all cylinders.
Apart from the one solitary defeat to CSKA Moscow away from home, the LaLiga side have won 4 of their 5 games. They have scored 12 goals, conceded just 2 and have already qualified for the knockout stages. With one-third of the season already over, it remains to be seen whether the LaLiga side can replicate their Champions League form in LaLiga.
#3 Bayern Munich
The Bundesliga side are currently unbeaten in the Champions League, where they have won 4 of the 5 games played, scoring 12 goals and conceding just 2. They have already advanced to the Knockout stages, even though they still have a game to play. When it comes to their Bundesliga form, however, the lesser the said, the better.
Last season, Bayern won the Bundesliga in style, finishing 21 points ahead of Schalke 04 in second. They scored 92 goals and conceded just 28 in 34 games. This season though, the German giants are 5th in the league, scoring 23 goals and conceding 17 in the first 12 games. Last season, Bayern lost just 4 times in 34 games, this season, they have already lost 3 so far!
They started the season on a high, winning all of their first 4 games. But since then, Bayern have just 2 wins in their last 8 games, a span where they have already lost thrice. They are currently 9 points adrift of Dortmund who are at the top of the table and while it is not impossible for Bayern to mount a title challenge, they need to buckle up fast or else for the first time in 7 years, Bundesliga will have a new Champion.
#2 Manchester United
The Record Champions of England have been enduring a tough time ever since Sir Alex retired. However, when Jose Mourinho was given the hot seat ahead of the 2016/17 season, Manchester United were expected to become Champions of England yet again.
While it has not happened, United have also failed to mount a title challenge in recent years. They did finish second last season, but they had surrendered the league to City by the turn of the year.
The present season has been marred with controversies and torrid displays on the football pitch as is now common in Jose Mourinho's third season at most clubs. United exited the league cup in the 3rd round, after a defeat at the hands of Championship side Derby.
While they have managed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, their performance on the field has been pretty poor. However, it is in the league that Manchester United's struggles are never-ending.
The Red Devils currently sit at 7th in the table and have won just 6 of their 13 games. What is worrying is that they have conceded 21 goals already, as their defensive woes refuse to end. Interestingly, United conceded 28 goals in the whole of last season!
Their goal scoring has not been too good either, with Rashford, Lukaku and Sanchez all failing to gather consistency. United are already 14 points behind league leaders City and unless Mourinho churns up a miracle at Old Trafford, it would be very difficult for them to mount a title challenge this season.
#1 AS Monaco
AS Monaco had lit up the Ligue 1 in the 2016/17 season, finishing as the Champions and also reaching the semifinals of the Champions League. Even last season, they finished second in the league, yet right now, AS Monaco are 19th in Ligue 1. They have won just 2 of the 14 games so far and have lost 8, scoring just 13 goals and conceding 22!
Last season, Monaco lost just 6 games in Ligue 1 in the entire season, however this time, their treacherous form has continued right from the start of the season.
They won their first game against Nantes and then failed to register a win in the next 12 games! It was a run that ultimately cost Leonardo Jardim his job, as Thierry Henry took over on 13th October. However, even the Frenchman's presence has failed to inspire them, as, since his appointment, Monaco have won just 1 of the last 5 games.
In the Champions League too, the French side have been dismal, to say the least. They have lost 4 and drawn 1 of their 5 games and are out of the tournament already.
It has been a sad turn of events for a club that was supposed to be on the rise. While challenging for the title is out of bounds, fans will hope that Thierry Henry can at least steer their club out of the relegation zone and give them a fighting chance to survive in the Ligue 1 this season.
Which of these 5 can turn around their season? Let us know in the comments.
