Zidane was the first to see this coming Champions League - Real Madrid vs Ajax Analysis of Jose Felix Diaz

Six months. This is the time that Real Madrid now have to rebuild a team that achieved something unthinkable in modern football: winning four Champions Leagues in five years. However, March 5, 2019, will be a date that goes down in history for Los Blancos. A defeat such as the 4-1 thrashing handed out by Ajax, as well as the "shi**y season" as Dani Carvajal labelled it, should serve as a turning point. Fans understand the situation and are resigned to it, waiting for better times, times which will surely come because a season worse than this one is simply impossible.

The night that Ajax imposed their will on Real Madrid in the Spanish capital will be remembered for a long time, not because of the painful nature of a 4-1 loss, but rather because it means saying goodbye to a team that has declined to an almost unthinkable level when you assess the individual names on the team sheet.

There were individuals who seemed so insecure on Tuesday, as if transfixed to the Dutch festival taking place in the stands. Players like Raphael Varane, Casemiro, Nacho and Toni Kroos were not even remotely close to the players who have appeared invincible in similar situations over the past five years.

They looked like lifeless, replica versions of themselves, as they watched a vibrant Ajax side dance around them; they too were resigned to what they were seeing in front of them.

What has happened over the course of the past week should serve to shape a Real Madrid that hopes to move away from the darkness, although they shouldn't turn their back on everyone with there still a number of players who still have a lot to give to football.

The first step will be to find a coach capable of giving both structure and identity to a team that has never been the same since Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo left.

Zidane sensed just what could happen and warned Florentino Perez that he wasn't prepared to lead a team that wasn't heavily rebuilt, with it worth remembering that there were serious signs of decline in the 2017/18 season, too.

The departure of Zidane has almost left the club frozen, without a leader who is capable of heading the project of signing young talented players, whilst waiting for Neymar to become available.

Even though Ronaldo reached an agreement to lower his buyout clause to 100 million euros back in February 2018, Los Blancos were ill-prepared for his departure. They haven't been able to react to almost any event over the past six months, be that under Julen Lopetegui or Santiago Solari. The absence of a stellar, world class signing in the summer hasn't helped.

Having nothing to play for as early as 5 March shouldn't be something that any Real Madrid team ever has to live with - there is no place for it.

The tears of Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Junior when they had to leave the pitch through injury aren't enough to compensate for the lack of hunger or ambition which was palpable to see from some players.

This has all led to Real Madrid to essentially be on holiday by 5 March, without anything to look forward to, but there is little to argue. It's now time to reflect and time to make big decisions.