After a heavy defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercup, Real Madrid are on the brink of implosion. With tension in the dressing room, criticism of Carlo Ancelotti and discontent among the fans, the Transalpine coach is in the eye of the storm. On Tuesday, the Madrid press made some shocking revelations.
The Spanish Supercup Clasico will live long in the memory, but not for the right reasons on the Madrid side. Beaten 5-2 by a formidable Barça side, the Real Madrid players left the pitch with their heads hung low. This humiliation, rare for a club of their stature, left a deep wound in the team.
As soon as the final whistle blew, the criticism began. Supporters, the media and even some of the players pointed the finger at Carlo Ancelotti’s questionable tactical choices and a collective performance that fell short of expectations. The only one who seems to have been spared is Kylian Mbappé, who put in a fine performance, scoring a fine goal and putting in his best performance since joining Real Madrid.
Real Madrid dressing room divided and under pressure
The setback against the Catalans revealed latent tensions in the Madrid dressing room. According to Relevo, a number of the team’s leaders have expressed their disagreement with Carlo Ancelotti’s decisions. Among the recurring criticisms: his repositioning of certain players in unusual positions and a lack of rotation that exhausts the first-choice players. In addition, some players feel that the Italian coach treats the squad members differently. These perceived inequalities are exacerbating an already tense climate. The media reports that some voices are being raised, and the Italian coach’s leadership is being called into question.
Carlo Ancelotti, used to the spotlight and the pressure, seems to be wavering this time. After the defeat, the coach took the unusual step of apologising to some of the players he had publicly criticised, according to the same media outlet, Relevo. The Italian coach also called for an emergency meeting with his directors, including Florentino Pérez. The aim: to find solutions to turn things around. However, the coach knows that the Madrid president’s patience is not infinite.
One of the main criticisms levelled at Ancelotti concerns his tactical management. During the Clasico, his choices were not convincing. Players such as Aurélien Tchouaméni and Lucas Vázquez, targeted for their defensive shortcomings, were kept on the pitch despite sub-par performances. Alternatives did exist, however, with the likes of Fede Valverde and Raul Asencio. But Ancelotti opted to stick with the men he trusted, a gamble that proved costly.
The mercato, another source of tension
The current crisis goes beyond the pitch. The lack of reinforcements at the recent mercato is a bone of contention, both within the club and with the fans. Real Madrid desperately need to strengthen their defence, particularly at right-back. Although names such as Trent Alexander-Arnold have been mooted, no concrete progress has been made. This lack of action is incomprehensible.
Florentino Pérez, usually so quick to intervene, has also been criticised. His friendly relations with Barça president Joan Laporta and his behaviour after the defeat – particularly his exchanges with Robert Lewandowski – have irritated some of the fans. Despite this tense climate, some players are trying to maintain cohesion. Thibaut Courtois, one of the few to shine against Barcelona, spoke out in defence of his team-mates. The Belgian goalkeeper acknowledged that the team had to learn lessons from the defeat. But his interventions were not enough to mask the cracks in the squad. Other key players, such as Luka Modrić, are calling for unity, but their voice seems increasingly isolated.
Carlo Ancelotti knows that the next few weeks will be crucial. The pressure for results is immense, and the management could lose patience if the situation does not improve quickly. For the moment, Florentino Pérez is publicly supportive of his coach. But names like Santiago Solari are already being bandied about as a possible successor. The fans, a historic pillar of Real Madrid, are showing signs of fatigue. On social networks, criticism is multiplying, aimed at both Ancelotti and Pérez. Many are calling for radical changes to avoid a blank season. The next mercato will be decisive. Strengthening the squad and calming internal tensions will have to be the top priorities if the season is to be saved.
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