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Why James Rodriguez Was Real Madrid’s Most Surprising Player in 2015/16 Season
- Updated: June 1, 2016
Real Madrid finished the 2015-16 campaign in the best possible manner, winning the UEFA Champions League to claim an 11th European Cup in their history and cap a fantastic half-season in charge for new boss Zinedine Zidane.
The last third of the season saw Zidane guide his team to consistent victories in La Liga as well as a winning run in Europe, with the Frenchman sticking, by and large, to a regular pool of 11 or 12 players and only rotating when necessary.
One of those who was left out and suffered an extremely disappointing year overall was James Rodriguez, a poster boy for the club last season, but one of the most surprising players in Europe this year from the point of view of failing to impact on the level that his talent suggests he should.
Perception vs. Reality?
James’ bad year got off to a difficult start with Rafa Benitez as manager, but the stupidity of the situation is that it was a case of media perception in Spain seeming to affect the player’s belief of his own involvement rather than the manager himself, who clearly viewed the Colombian as important.
Benitez went through pre-season and the early weeks of the new campaign using a 4-2-3-1 system, playing Gareth Bale as a driving force through attacking midfield, with Cristiano Ronaldo left and leaving one space out on the right which was intended to be filled by James.
With Real’s No. 10 returning from international duty last summer short of fitness, Isco started the first game of the season in that position—and immediately talk began that the Colombian was not wanted or trusted by Benitez.
That continued throughout Benitez’s time at the helm—despite the reality of the situation that James played as a first choice whenever he was fit.
Mutinous talk from inside the club or a vendetta against the manager? Whatever the truth was to instigate the chatter, Benitez actually put James into the team for the next game—where he scored twice and assisted once against Real Betis. That showed the ability and importance of him in the setup, but another injury on international duty curtailed his involvement.
It’s overlooked, but after James returned from injury, Benitez started him in six out of the next seven Liga games he was fit for, only dropping him to the bench for his last match in charge, away to …
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