Real Madrid, reigning European and Spanish champion, so solid and sovereign last year, saw its weaknesses exposed with a second defeat in a row against AC Milan on Tuesday (3-1) , plunging the Spanish giant into crisis.
It’s been 15 years. Fifteen years since the supporters meringues had not suffered two consecutive defeats at their fortress, the Santiago Bernabéu, by conceding three or more goals.
We were then in 2009 and the Real had just suffered one of the greatest humiliations in its history in the face of FC Barcelona of Messi et Guardiola (6-2), followed by a setback (3-1) against Majorca.
The scenario today seems to be repeating itself for the King of Europe, corrected again by his eternal rival Barcelona (4-0) and by theAC 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 coach Carlo Ancelottipraised for his exceptional management last year, today seems to be struggling to find solutions to revive his team. “Disaster”, “fire”, “ridicule”… The Spanish press wants to be very alarmist this Wednesday.
“0-4… and now this. Blancos repeat the same mistakes as in the Clasico in another mediocre match”headlines the daily MARKdeploring in its pages a cruel lack “play and intensity” and “defensive errors” who end up punishing the Real “including in his favorite competition”.
“The nightmare continues!”title his competitor AS with a photo of Kylian Mbappéstill in failure on Tuesday despite several opportunities, head down.
The name of Kroos
If the arrival in its ranks of the French attacker was, on paper, Real the ready-made candidate for his own succession in C1and all the other trophies within its reach, the Madrid club remains far from its standards and Ancelotti incapable of putting its stars in the best conditions – which is nevertheless its 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 have to look for solutions to have a more solid team. (…) We have to improve tactically, it’s not an individual problem, but a question of sacrifice, concentration and collective work”judged the Italian technician.
For the former player, coach and sports director merengue Jorge Valdanoconsultant for the channel Movistar, Ancelotti has its share of responsibility, but the Spanish giant’s concerns go well beyond that.
“There are great players who still haven’t given their best. There is no balance in this squad. I think we underestimated Kroos’ retirement. Because it’s is in midfield that the team is not balanced”estimated the Argentinian.
“The presence of Kroos was crucial, because he knew how to be patient when necessary, and also accelerate when necessary. Real lost a lot of things without Kroos and are not able to compensate for them, even with some of the best players of the world”he concluded.
There will soon be an emergency, with already nine points behind in Liga on the FC Barcelona (with one match less) and two defeats in four days of C1 which could complicate the journey towards a 16th crown, the objective displayed at the arrival of Mbappé.
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