Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has expressed concern over the team’s unusual back-to-back losses, the latest being against AC Milan. Defensive challenges have emerged as a key issue, with Madrid now battling to hold onto a top-eight position in the Champions League.
This recent defeat followed a heavy 4-0 El Clasico loss to Barcelona, marking another instance where Real Madrid struggled on home turf. The game underscored vulnerabilities in both defense and offense for last season’s Champions League champions, revealing defensive gaps and limited scoring solutions.
A key issue many point to as affecting Real Madrid involves Mbappe, who has managed only one goal in his last six appearances. Some, including Karim Benzema, argue that he’s not being utilized in his ideal position. However, Ancelotti was swift to dismiss concerns that Mbappe’s presence has unsettled the team dynamic in the locker room.
He also called on his squad to refocus swiftly to keep their hopes alive for a top-eight spot in the expanded 36-team Champions League standings, with Real Madrid currently languishing in 17th place, having secured just six points from four group game.
“No, the dressing room is healthy,” Ancelotti told Movistar after the defeat to Milan. “There’ll be a lot of criticism, about our attitude, training. What critics think, we have to accept. We aren’t doing well. We want to do better. Like this, it’s hard to get to the end of the season.
Each year, there are difficult moments where you have to struggle, fight, and think. What isn’t normal is that this team had a good run, and has fallen very fast. That’s part of football. When you think everything is perfect you fall, but the good thing about football is that you can react.” he added.
⚪️ Carlo Ancelotti: “We had many chances. We lacked accuracy, we could score more. But this is not the problem…”.
“We don’t defend well. We need to be more compact. We lack solidity”. pic.twitter.com/w1Csj0fUQG
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 6, 2024
Los Blancos have allowed nine goals over their last three matches, and Ancelotti remains most troubled by his defense. “We created plenty of chances, so that’s not my main worry,” he noted. “We might have lacked a bit of sharpness in finishing, but the real issue is how easily opponents are finding ways through our defense.”
Ancelotti acknowledged issues with his team’s defensive setup, pointing out they’ve conceded nine goals over their last three home games. He also noted the fans’ frustration, with players such as Aurélien Tchouaméni and Kylian Mbappé receiving boos from the crowd.
Real Madrid will face Osasuna at home on Saturday in what’s shaping up to be a crucial fixture, with Mbappé expected to keep his spot in Ancelotti’s lineup despite his recent dip in form.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
