Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been mocked for declaring himself the club's number one and then shipping five first half goals against city rivals Atletico. And the former Chelsea keeper's problems are only a small part of what is turning into a disastrous North American tour.
Madrid's pre-season was in bits after a mauling in New Jersey at the hands of Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid.
'Courtois shot himself in the foot just hours before the game' said Diario AS. 'In a conversation with a media from his own country he said: "It's clear that I am the number one in goal now".
Well the number one let in five against Atletico. You never heard Iker Casillas or Keylor Navas coming out with something similar. And they have six European Cups between them. It is nothing strange that Courtois heard some whistles [directed at him] in the first half.'
Zidane said last season that there would definitely not be any uncertainty around who was Real Madrid's first choice keeper this campaign but that is not how things are turning out so far. Navas was a second half improvement on Courtois and most fans want the Costa Rican to start in goal with Courtois either playing cup games or being sold.
Zidane also prefers Navas but had given in to the club over Courtois in the hope that his other demands would be met. So far his request for the signing of Paul Pogba have not been heeded.
The only plus point for him from this pre-season humiliation is that there might now be even more urgency to bring in the Manchester United midfielder.
The club definitely need to do something to turn around what is being called 'Zidane's no revolution' this summer.
At the start of the game the French coach picked a side remarkably similar to the elevens he was selecting in the final third of last season. There were only two new faces in the shape of Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic and with no change in personnel it was no great surprise to dejected fans that there was no change in performance.
Madrid were sloppy at the back, completely lacking in intensity in midfield, and – with Gareth Bale on the bench until the 62 minute mark – completely toothless in attack.
The game was well beyond Real Madrid by the time the Welshman entered the fray, but that hadn't stopped him laughing and joking on the substitutes' bench.
Full-backs Marcelo and Alvaro Odriozola were on the pitch for Madrid's worst performances under Zidane last season – in particular their first ever home defeat in the league to Girona who were eventually relegated. Last night they were unable to stop an impressive Atletico Madrid who had Diego Costa looking mean and lean bullying Sergio Ramos much as he had done in the European Super Cup 12 months ago.
That Super Cup win for Atletico in Estonia ruined the start of Real Madrid's season and hastened the sacking of Julen Lopetegui. This time the damage has been done sooner and there maybe time to fix things but the club will have to move fast.
There are no plans to replace Bale if his move to Jiangsu Suning goes through with all efforts to be concentrated on bringing in Pogba but the 7-3 reverse has left president Florentino Perez wondering if practically gifting Bale to the Chinese is the correct thing to do in the circumstances.
Midfield is certainly where Zidane believes Madrid needs a revolution. They were over-run by the sprightly Saul and the sensational Joao Felix. This result could also affect Atletico's chances of signing James Rodriguez from Real Madrid – it was bad enough last night that Atletico won with four former Real Madrid players on the pitch, without giving them Rodriguez too.
There is time to turn things around but there are major concerns. 'We treated it like a friendly; they didn't,' said Ramos after the game. It was not lost on Real Madrid supporters, increasingly disillusioned with the captain both on and off the pitch, that both these teams will start the new season at the same time.
They should be at the same level – but on last night's evidence they are not. Atletico Madrid are flying; Real Madrid are a mess.
