The 2003–04 season was highly disappointing for Real Madrid. Under Carlos Queiroz, the club finished 4th in La Liga, well behind champions Valencia. Despite a star-studded squad, including Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário, Luís Figo, and David Beckham, inconsistency plagued the team. In the UEFA Champions League, Madrid were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Monaco, while in the Copa del Rey, they exited early against Real Zaragoza. Injuries and tactical issues undermined the squad, and internal tensions affected morale. The season highlighted that even a galaxy of stars could underperform without cohesion and balance, prompting significant reflection for the following years.
