Maldini has it in for Asencio, his words after the red card: 'He has to...'

Julio Maldonado, Maldini, doesn't let anything slide. If there's a Real Madrid player who's at the center of criticism in this Club World Cup, it's Asencio. The youth academy product is experiencing a difficult tournament, with mistakes that are defining every minute he plays.

This time, the spotlight turned on again after the match against Pachuca. Asencio was sent off in the 7th minute for a completely avoidable action. He grabbed Rondón as he was about to enter the box with the ball under control, being the last Real Madrid defender.

There was no discussion at all, since the defender had no chance of reaching the ball, so the red card was not up for debate of any kind. Nobody protested, only the position of the Venezuelan forward, which was correct.

"It has to be a 0, there's no other way"

Maldini was clear about it. In his usual analysis of the match, he didn't hesitate to start with him: "Well, sent off in the seventh minute for a play that's absolutely avoidable. You leave your team with 10... well, it has to be a 0. A zero for Asencio."

The journalist was blunt: "I only give a zero in very specific cases. A self-expulsion or a play like this, at the beginning, for no reason. There's nothing more to say." He even recalled that Courtois himself reproached him after the match.

What happened against Pachuca wasn't an isolated incident. Against Al Hilal, in the tournament debut, Asencio was already a negative protagonist. Shortly after Madrid's goal, he committed a penalty for grabbing Marcos Leonardo. An unnecessary action, in a play with hardly any danger.

A tournament to forget

That day he was substituted at halftime. Partly because of his low level, but also because he had been sick a few days earlier. Even so, his participation has been marked by mistakes that are taking a toll on him.

Xabi Alonso trusted him, gave him minutes, and kept him in the starting line-up, but the mistakes keep happening. Voices like Maldini's, influential in the Madrid environment, won't overlook it.

Real Madrid beat Pachuca, yes. But Asencio is once again singled out, and his place in the starting line-up after this Club World Cup could be in doubt. Rüdiger has already recovered, Huijsen is making a very good impression in his first matches, and Militao is expected to recover soon.

In Madrid, mistakes come at a cost. Especially when they happen at crucial moments.