The gifts and changes that add doubts to Real Madrid Real Madrid Signings needed

It's summer, it's the month of August and a time when things other than work are being thought about but at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu there is plenty of work to do and after a surprising slip up in the UEFA Super Cup, Real Madrid need to ready themselves for the season to come.

An unnecessary gift from Marcelo gave Atletico Madrid hope and from then on it was the Rojiblancos who looked like the side from the Spanish capital with the better players and they stuck to their gameplan.

Until that blunder Los Blancos appeared to have the game under control but when things started to go wrong, the cracks were exposed. A central midfielder, a striker, a left sided player... Real Madrid's needs just kept adding up.

Gareth Bale looked assured and threatening. He was comfortable with Marco Asensio generating space and causing problems in attack, as he was with Isco who looked to unlock the defence when he had possession. But when Julen Lopetegui took off Asensio, Bale suffered and his performance dropped.

There is no doubt that with the market still open for another two weeks, Real Madrid will be linked with a number of players, some new and some that they have reportedly been interested in before. The feeling after the UEFA Super Cup is that too many players are still in holiday mode.

The need for reinforcements has been highlighted. Lopetegui wants a midfielder and a number 9 but the club are reluctant to deliver.

Life without Cristiano Ronaldo has started on the wrong foot for Real Madrid.