Carlos Alcaraz says watching Real Madrid’s difficult start to the season has been painful, despite the Spanish tennis player finally moving beyond his own persistent injury problems.
Real Madrid’s latest setback came on Sunday, when they lost 2-1 to city rivals Atletico Madrid. The result leaves them fourth in the standings on 15 points, six behind league leaders and rivals Barcelona.
Asked about the club’s performances under new manager Jose Mourinho, Alcaraz said Real Madrid must improve.
“They can do better,” the seven-time Grand Slam champion told Stats Perform on Wednesday.
Alcaraz was speaking ahead of the Laver Cup, where he will represent Team Europe. He said Real Madrid’s squad contained plenty of quality but lacked consistency as a team.
“Right now, I'm seeing other teams doing better. They are Real Madrid, great players, talented,” the Spaniard said.
“As a team, they can do better. They have to work it out a little bit. I'm suffering right now watching the games because you never know what's going to happen. I would say a little bit more intensity (is needed).”
The comments came after Real Madrid’s defeat by Atletico Madrid, a result which extended their frustration at the beginning of the campaign and left them six points behind Barcelona.
Alcaraz’s Team Europe team-mate Casper Ruud also discussed football, praising fellow Norwegian Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker.
Ruud, a former world number two, described Haaland as the best striker in the world and highlighted the Norwegian’s remarkable efficiency in front of goal.
“His ratio of touches to goals, I mean, no one can match him. No one is even near,” Ruud said.
The three-day Laver Cup begins in London on Friday. Team Europe will also include Alexander Zverev, Flavio Cobolli, Jakub Mensik and Rafael Jodar alongside Alcaraz and Ruud.
Andre Agassi’s Team World features Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Alex de Minaur, Alexander Bublik and Francisco Cerundolo.
Team Europe will be captained by Yannick Noah as they attempt to regain the Laver Cup following their defeat by Team World in San Francisco last year.