Champions League: “Disaster”, “ridiculous”: Real Madrid sinks into crisis

Real Madrid, reigning European and Spanish champion, so solid and sovereign last year, saw its weaknesses come to light. A second defeat in a row against AC Milan on Tuesday (3-1), plunges the Spanish giant into crisis.

It’s been 15 years. Fifteen years since the Merengue supporters had not experienced two consecutive defeats in their fortress, the Santiago-Bernabéu, by conceding three or more goals. We were then in 2009 and Real had just suffered one of the greatest humiliations in its history against FC Barcelona of Messi and Guardiola (6-2), followed by a setback (3-1) against Mallorca.

The scenario today seems to be repeating itself for the King of Europe, corrected again by its eternal rival Barcelona (4-0) and by AC Milan (3-1) in the space of two weeks. With, in both cases, glaring problems of solidity, balance, creativity and efficiency on both sides of the field. Enough to push the Madrid club into deep slump.

“The nightmare continues!”

Coach Carlo Ancelotti, praised for his exceptional management last year, today seems to be struggling to find solutions to revive his team.

“Disaster”, “fire”, “ridiculous”… The Spanish press wants to be very alarmist on Wednesday. “0-4…and now this. The Whites repeat the same mistakes as in the Clasico in a new mediocre match”, headlines the daily Marca, deploring in its pages a cruel lack “of play and intensity” and “defensive errors” which end up punishing Real “ including in his favorite competition.

“The nightmare continues!”, headlines its competitor AS with a photo of Kylian Mbappé, still in failure on Tuesday despite several opportunities, head down.

If the arrival in its ranks of the French striker made, on paper, Real the ready candidate for its own succession in C1, and for all the other trophies within its reach, the Madrid club remains far from its standards and Ancelotti unable to put his stars in the best conditions – which is his trademark.

“We are not good, we are not capable of producing effective collective work,” he regretted, saying he accepted the criticism. “We have to defend better, because that’s the key. We must look for solutions to have a stronger team. (…) We must improve tactically, it is not an individual problem, but a question of sacrifice, concentration and collective work,” judged the Italian technician.

The Ombre by Toni Kroos

For former Merengue player, coach and sports director Jorge Valdano, consultant for the Movistar channel, Ancelotti has his share of responsibility, but the Spanish giant’s concerns go well beyond that.

“There are great players who still haven’t given their best version. There is no balance in this squad. I think we underestimated Kroos’ retirement. Because it is in the midfield that the team is not balanced,” said the Argentinian.

“The presence of Kroos was crucial, because he knew how to be patient when necessary, and also accelerate when necessary. “Real have lost a lot without Kroos and are not able to compensate for them, even with some of the best players in the world,” he concluded.

There will soon be an emergency, with already nine points behind in La Liga over FC Barcelona (with one game in hand) and two defeats in four days of C1 which could complicate the path towards a 16th crown, the objective stated upon arrival by Mbappé.

AFP