Real Madrid's 2-5 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final sparked controversy over the future of coach Carlo Ancelotti. However, within the club, it is surprising and uncomfortable to discuss the Italian's position.
A senior Real Madrid official emphasized: "It is impossible to evaluate a team through a few matches. Everything will be decided in the spring." At the same time, the board of directors affirmed that they have no intention of changing the winter transfer plan for just one defeat. This means Ancelotti will not be significantly added in January, unless Liverpool are ready to let Trent Alexander-Arnold go, a unlikely possibility.
The match in Jeddah exposed serious problems in Real Madrid's defense. After Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 5th minute, Los Blancos quickly fell into chaos. Sharp attacks from the wings of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha continuously caused difficulties, turning the "White Vultures" defense into a mess.
I said before the match that we had to defend well to win. However, the whole team did it very badly and Barcelona did the opposite - Carlo Ancelotti admitted after the match.
When Yamal accelerated past Ferland Mendy and easily eliminated Aurelien Tchouameni to score the equalizer, the anxiety was evident on the faces of Real players. The subsequent goals of Lewandowski, Raphinha and Alejandro Balde further highlighted the lack of solidity in the defence.
According to Opta, Barcelona had 13 shots, including 7 shots on target, in the first half alone - Real Madrid's worst defensive record in the past 11 seasons.
Carlo Ancelotti made a series of changes in the second half, including withdrawing Lucas Vazquez to bring Raul Asencio on the field. However, this adjustment did not bring immediate results. Originally a midfielder, Tchouameni has to play as a centre-back, while Vazquez plays as a right-back. It is this patchwork that makes Real Madrid easily exploited on the right wing.
In addition, the decision to use Tchouameni in defense has sparked controversy within the team. Some opinions say that the French star is not confident enough and is often pushed into unfamiliar positions. This reduces the effectiveness of the defense, making Real easy to exploit by opponents.
Despite seeing clear weaknesses in defence, the Royal team is still not ready to spend money in the winter transfer window. Real Madrid believes that adding personnel in the middle of the season rarely brings long-term results. Instead, they tend to wait until summer to implement big plans.
Alexander-Arnold is an example. Although the Bernabeu team is in dire need of a quality defender, convincing Liverpool to transfer this player is unrealistic. Some other targets such as Aymeric Laporte or Vitor Reis are also assessed as having financial difficulties or not being able to meet expectations.
The defeat to Barca is not the end but it is a clear warning for Real Madrid. The defense needs to be improved, both in terms of personnel and tactics. The upcoming matches in Copa del Rey and La Liga will be a test for the Royal team to regain their form and prove that this defeat was just a temporary stumble.
Real Madrid have overcome difficult periods to reap glory. However, can Carlo Ancelotti's army do it again when they refuse to add forces and put their trust in the current squad?
