Real Madrid suffered a crushing defeat against Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening. Although Thibaut Courtois shone in spite of everything, some of Carlo Ancelotti’s choices and individual performances were heavily criticised. The Belgian goalkeeper broke his silence after the second humiliation of the season against Hansi Flick’s team.
The 5-2 defeat by Barcelona in the Spanish Supercup left a bitter taste in Real Madrid’s mouth. The match exposed the team’s glaring defensive shortcomings, particularly on the right flank. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Lucas Vázquez were the team’s main weaknesses. They created too many chances for their opponents.
Carlo Ancelotti, faithful to his choices, has continued to rely on the Frenchman and the Spaniard despite recurring criticism. Yet there is no shortage of alternatives. Fede Valverde could fill in at right-back, while Raul Asencio could have strengthened the midfield. But the Italian coach remains committed to his current formation, despite the obvious flaws exposed during the Clasico.
Many of Barça’s dangerous moves originated on Madrid’s right flank. Tchouaméni and Lucas Vázquez were often outmatched, unable to contain their opponents’ repeated attacks. These defensive shortcomings quickly drew attention to the bench and Ancelotti’s tactical management. Despite these shortcomings, two players managed to stand out from the crowd. Firstly, Kylian Mbappé, who seems to be back to his best after a more complicated period. And above all, Thibaut Courtois, who pulled off a series of decisive saves to avoid an even greater humiliation.
Courtois speaks the truth after the humiliation
Despite conceding five goals, Thibaut Courtois proved to be one of Real Madrid’s best players during the match. In the first half, the Belgian goalkeeper made a number of impressive saves to limit the deficit. After the match, Courtois did not hesitate to express himself frankly, notably on his social networks. ‘The match didn’t go the way we wanted and we’re very upset with the result. We need to learn for the future,’ he said.
Despite a remarkable individual performance, Courtois took some of the blame. He is obviously trying to protect his team-mates and remind them that defeat is a collective one. What is certain is that Real Madrid are going through a turbulent period. This defeat at the hands of their biggest rivals highlights recurring problems, both tactical and individual. Ancelotti’s choices are increasingly being questioned, and the team will need to find solutions quickly if they are to remain competitive in the coming fixtures.
While players like Courtois continue to shine and maintain a level of excellence, the rest of the team will have to rise to the occasion. If the flaws are not corrected, Real Madrid may well suffer in the competitions to come, particularly against top-flight opposition in the Champions League, where Real Madrid must win all their remaining games if they hope to qualify for the last 16.
Leave a Reply