“React with force”: Real Madrid or the other day after, following the slap against Barça (2-5)

A slap, a real one and in world vision like few footballing events can offer. Real Madrid can no longer hide after being humiliated by eternal rival FC Barcelona on Sunday in the Spanish Super Cup final. As much as the score, already heavy (5-2), it is the manner and a rare excitement which marked the spirits in Saudi Arabia. The Merengue were unable to slow down, or even really limit, the Catalan waves, for the second time this season after the wreck of the second period in La Liga against Barça at the end of October. The rebound must now be unequivocal.

Facing Celta, for the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, Real has the context to recover from the crisis: a match at home and not in the anonymous suburbs of Jeddah, a Cup match and not a shock in the title race in La Liga, and against an affordable opponent, 12th in Liga. All that remains is to add the ingredients. Mentally, this second snub can leave room for all scenarios: a realization or a prolonged fall. Staggering on the European scene since the start of the season, Madrid cannot afford to (re)convalesce again.

“This match is a good opportunity to bounce back after a poor performance on our partproclaimed Carlo Ancelotti at a press conference on Wednesday. We have to react strongly after the defeat the other day. It was a failed match, we were bad defensively on every line and we made too many mistakes.

The Italian technician assures anyone who will listen that he has taken stock of this scathing 5-2. In his usual style, Ancelotti does not want to draw on any individuality, and points to a lack of “collective commitment“particularly when losing the ball.”We analyzed what happened and found solutions. We must move forward.“If the Madrid coach recognizes a “step backwards”, we use the Coué method and projection in the Spanish capital.”We’ve won so many finals, it’s normal that there are times when you pay the bill. We paid dearly against Barça, but it’s only one match. We are well positioned in all competitions and we will fight until the end, as always.“

Everything is going well in the best of all possible worlds at the Bernabeu? This is what we want to move forward. But that does not prevent a certain annoyance on the part of Carlo Ancelotti, rather placid as usual, facing the media on Wednesday. Asked if the problem with his training on Sunday was more about the game or the attitude, the former coach of Milan or PSG refused to enter into the “debates“, which he explained he reserved for his staff and players.

“The team is well prepared, I don’t mind people saying otherwise because it’s not the truth” he said before continuing a few minutes later. “I don’t follow the wave of criticism, that one day you are the best in the world, and the next the worst. I have the necessary balance that experience has given me to know who I am and not give in to these waves, because it’s not one day you’re the best and the next day the stupidest. I don’t think I’m the best or the stupidest.“

Temperance and constancy, Mister Ancelotti’s watchwords. To move in this direction, and because it has little real choice with a squad limited in depth, Real should keep a large base of the eleven swept by the Blaugrana on Sunday. “It’s possible that there will be changes, but in general, I believe in playing the best team possible.” This will count on Andriy Lunin and not Thibaut Courtois in goal, Ancelotti said, and could see Aurélien Tchouaméni returned to central defense. Under fire from criticism after being seriously manhandled by Barça attackers, the French international remains stuck in his role as a hinge patch. “I remain convinced that Aurélien did a good job in central defense, as soon as Alaba returns, he will resume his place as midfielder.” insisted Carlo Ancelotti.

Shall we take the same ones and start again? The strategy did not bear fruit after the 0-4 against Barcelona in the league. Real followed up with the reception of Milan in the Champions League, making only one change, the replacement of Eduardo Camavinga by Luka Modric in the middle. And Madrid had turned the other cheek, beaten 1-3 at Santiago-Bernabeu, in a match where Aurélien Tchouaméni had foundered…