Los Blancos were defeated by Atletico Bilbao 2-1 on another miserable night
They sit second in La Liga and all the way down in 24th in the Champions League
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By SAM LAWLEY
Published: 18:58 EST, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 19:02 EST, 4 December 2024
The Spanish media have begun to heap the responsibility of Real Madrid's terrible run of form at Carlo Ancelotti's door, after Los Blancos lost yet another game in a dreadful season.
The Italian boss took over at the Bernabeu in 2021 and has led them to two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey and two Champions League trophies, including one in May.
Indeed, as the Spanish giants lifted the famous cup following a successful season, they were on a high, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior shining, while superstar Kylian Mbappe inched closer to arriving.
Things have taken a sharp turn for the worse for Real this season, however, with the side languishing in second in the league, four points behind Barcelona, and an abysmal 24th in the Champions League following three losses in five games.
And it went from bad to worse for them on Wednesday night as they succumbed to another miserable defeat, losing 2-1 to Atletico Bilbao after an 80th-minute Gorka Guruzeta winner.
Spanish publication Marca has now turned on Ancelotti, refusing to solely blame the players any longer.
Carlo Ancelotti is coming under pressure from Spanish media after a terrible run of form
Los Blancos suffered a 2-1 defeat against Atletico Bilbao on Wednesday as they slip further adrift
It's all a far cry from when they sealed Champions League glory in May after a wonderful season
An article read: 'The easy thing is to point the finger at Kylian [Mbappe] and not address the real problem, which is the team's plan. Or, rather, the absence of a plan. What is Madrid playing at? Three and a half months of competition have passed and nobody knows.
'They have already lost five games this season, when in the whole of 2023/24 they only lost two games. Madrid, in reality, is not working. And as much as Ancelotti says after each defeat that the problem has been detected, it is clear that the solutions he proposes do not work.
'[Toni] Kroos left and the bench did not work on a different plan. They say in the Madrid dressing room that tactically they work exactly the same as last season, as if another player had left and not the one who had the team's plans. Madrid, even when they win, do not play as they should. And when they face a big team, they lose.'
The publication was careful not to make Mbappe a scapegoat, despite the French star disappointing since his move from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
The forward missed a penalty against Bilbao, just as he did against Liverpool in the Champions League last week adn looks shot of confidence.
They also point out that the ever-dependable Federico Valverde was responsible for Guruzeta's goal after he failed to pull off a nutmeg.
Alejandro Berenguer Remiro had given the home side a deserved lead on 53 minutes before Jude Bellingham dragged Real into the contest with a 78th-minute strike.
Madrid face a tough run of fixtures, travelling to Girona and then Atalanta in the Champions League in the coming weeks.
Marca criticised Kylian Mbappe's performances but said other factors were in play too
Jude Bellingham scored an equaliser against Bilbao but was left apologising to fans at the end
Federico Valverde is not himself either and gave away the winner with a rash nutmeg attempt
They have struggled against big teams this season, losing to the likes of Lille, AC Milan, Barcelona and Liverpool.
The media criticism comes after Ancelotti was reportedly summoned for crisis talks with Real president Florentino Perez following the club's difficult run of form.
The report claims the pair regularly meet for discussions when Real endure a difficult run, but given the club's worrying performances in recent times, these talks have taken on an increased importance.
Ancelotti and Perez are set to discuss why they believe the team are struggling, while the meeting will also hint at whether the Italian still has the full backing of the club.
The report goes onto claim Real's hierarchy feel as if Ancelotti's side are in their toughest period of the past five years and that Mbappe's penalty miss against Liverpool summed up their struggles.
However, there is an admission that Ancelotti is up against it with so many injuries and a lack of depth in key positions, while there is a feeling that more should have been done in the summer.
The likes of Vinicius Jnr, Rodrygo, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Aurelien Tchouameni are all currently on the sidelines, while others such as Bellingham and Mbappe have struggled for form.
Publicly the club have pointed to the congested schedule and lack of rest as a reason for suffering so many injuries, but privately they are investigating why the squad is struggling physically, with Real's fitness coach Antonio Pintus coming under fire.
However, Ancelotti continues to back his players and the report claims the 65-year-old is up for the challenge and keen to turn the situation around.
Real MadridCarlo Ancelotti