Another home defeat has plunged the Spanish club into a deep crisis. This Tuesday, three players, including two Frenchmen, faced sharp criticism.
Real Madrid is going through an exceptionally tough period. Following a crushing 0-4 home defeat to Barça, the Merengues returned to their Santiago Bernabéu stadium last night for the fourth matchday of the Champions League. Having missed their weekend league game due to the devastating floods in Valencia, La Casa Blanca hoped to restore their reputation with a strong showing against AC Milan. However, this clash between two Champions League giants only deepened Madrid’s crisis. Suffering a 3-1 loss and frequently outplayed by a tactically superior Rossoneri side, Carlo Ancelotti’s team now finds itself in 17th place in the Champions League standings. This time, there was no miraculous rescue as there had been against Dortmund.
The situation is concerning for a Real Madrid team that had raised high expectations, especially with its renowned attack. This morning, the disappointment is palpable, and the Madrid press is quick to look for scapegoats in the wake of yet another loss. Leading the criticisms is the defense. During the press conference and in an interview with Movistar+, Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his team might struggle to make it through the season with such a porous defense, having conceded nine goals in just three games. “It’s very difficult to finish the season like this. We’re clearly missing something. We have to defend better; that’s the key. We can’t return to tonight’s situation. […] We’re not defending well, the team isn’t compact. We need to be more compact, more organized. Yes, we’ve given up a lot, a lot of chances,” he stated.
Aurélien Tchouameni, substituted at halftime and implicated in the first two goals, has come under particular scrutiny. Tomas Roncero specifically highlighted the French player’s errors: “Tchouameni… The first two goals… On the first, he’s outmatched on the corner. And on the second, he hands it directly to the opponent. We miss Casemiro more and more each day.” Recently, the French midfielder has faced mounting criticism. Real Madrid invested €80 million in Tchouameni to make him a cornerstone of the midfield, but now he seems to be losing the club’s confidence, including that of Carlo Ancelotti. This morning, the daily AS headlined, “Tchouameni, a deep problem.” When asked about his decision to leave Tchouameni in the dressing room at halftime, Ancelotti emphasized that it wasn’t a punitive move. “It’s not an individual issue but a collective one. It’s time for us to bounce back, fight, and win the next match.” Still, the Madrid press’s patience with Tchouameni appears to be waning, and it remains to be seen how long Ancelotti’s diplomacy can stave off the growing criticism of the former Monaco player.
Where are the stars?
The other two players singled out are criticized not only for their lack of offensive effectiveness but also for their absence in defense. As in every Real Madrid match, Kylian Mbappé has faced harsh criticism. Once again, the French captain squandered several chances, and his performance as a number 9 still struggles to convince. Tomas Roncero, editor of AS, voiced his frustration on El Chiringuito: “Mbappé, score goals! We know you’re talented—it’s on your résumé! But that’s what we expect from you! If you’re so great, prove it against Barça! Three one-on-ones, and all straight into the keeper’s hands. I wanted you for this kind of game, not to score three goals against Osasuna.” Beyond his missed opportunities in front of goal, Mbappé is also criticized for his lack of defensive effort, an issue recently highlighted by Relevo.
Last night, Mbappé seemed to have even influenced Vinicius Jr. in this lack of defensive effort. Several times, the Brazilian was seen watching the Rossoneri counterattacks without showing any intention of tracking back to help his teammates. Could he still be feeling disappointed about the Ballon d’Or? It’s possible, but one thing is clear: Real Madrid won’t be able to hold up for long if its two attacking stars continue to disengage defensively.
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