5 things Real Madrid must do to rise to the top once more

#3 Get rid of underperforming players

Bale is one of a host of underperforming Real Madrid players

Not many clubs can boast of having four FIFPro XI players throughout their history, much less in the same edition, but that is the exact scenario Real Madrid found themselves in last year.

A further seven players were nominated and while this might suggest that Real players are the very best in their respective positions, a cursory look suggests a much different story.

It has long been established that the FIFPro XI is barely a vote based on popularity rather than true performance and while majority Real's players are undoubtedly world class in their own rights, most of them have been on a decline over the last few years (which is only natural considering how long they have been on top).

Players like Marcelo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale among others have shown to be beneath their usual levels for the last few seasons and this has seen a concordant drop in results for the club.

A lot of these players would have to be allowed to go in order to usher in a new generation of players who would lead the club into the future (much like how this current crop was ushered in after the first 'galactico' experiment) for the club to get back into gear.