After their third defeat of the La Liga season this Saturday against Espanyol Barcelona, Real Madrid are on everyone’s lips. Aside from the refereeing, which made some serious errors, a few of Ancelotti’s players delivered another worrying performance that has sparked reactions in the Spanish press.
After the 4-0 loss to FC Barcelona and the 2-1 defeat against Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés, Real Madrid suffered their third defeat of the season. In this 22nd-round La Liga fixture, which seemed heavily one-sided on paper due to Espanyol Barcelona’s relegation-threatened position, Los Blancos struggled to make a difference. Forced early on to cope without Antonio Rüdiger—who picked up an injury in the 15th minute and will be sidelined for some time—Carlo Ancelotti’s side once again faltered defensively in the final moments of the match.
Aurélien Tchouaméni: The weak link!
Following the 1-0 defeat, which shakes up the title race, Relevo did not hold back in highlighting what is going wrong with the Madrid squad. As stated in their player ratings, Aurélien Tchouaméni once again demonstrated that he is struggling in central defence. Forced to fill in at this position due to Carlo Ancelotti’s insistence on keeping him on the pitch, the French midfielder has shown numerous weaknesses. Against a modest Espanyol side, Tchouaméni was caught out on multiple occasions.
While many refrain from criticising the player, who is simply following his manager’s instructions, Relevo did not hesitate to label him as Real Madrid’s weak link. During Saturday’s match, Espanyol’s players consistently targeted long balls behind Aurélien Tchouaméni. On several occasions, he was outpaced. In others, it was young Raúl Asensio who covered for him, using his superior speed and better reading of the game.
Although there is much to discuss on the attacking front, Real Madrid’s biggest concern today is defensive, with Tchouaméni unable to help the team push forward with his current style of play.
A major winter transfer window mistake?
When asked in a press conference about his team’s situation—having just lost Antonio Rüdiger, the only centre-back who has consistently performed for months—Carlo Ancelotti had little to say. “Rüdiger has suffered a muscle injury. We have already thought about and discussed what we need to do,” the Madrid coach initially stated, before refusing to answer a question regarding the club’s failure to recruit a defender in the winter transfer window.
Now, with David Alaba back in action, Real Madrid will have to quickly find a solution to their defensive shortage. Fortunately, despite his young age, Raúl Asensio continues to silence critics with every appearance for the first team. If Ancelotti does not adjust his plans—either by repositioning Aurélien Tchouaméni in midfield or benching him like any other underperforming player—Real Madrid’s season could end on a bitter note.
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