Carlo Ancelotti assured a week ago that he had more confidence in his team than a month ago. Upon returning from the last international break, he announced, he had detected good feelings and trusted that the field would confirm them. He even pointed to Kylian Mbappé, who he said was “close to 100%.” The message was very direct and presented it as a warning of a change in trend in the season.
The click, however, came on the contrary with the 0-4 of the classic, a result that, despite the favorable scenario of the first half, meant the last notch for a team that has not flowed since August. In the Madrid that has remained with Mbappé and without Kroos, the decline has been evident in the collective functioning, in the recurring “intensity” and in the performance of many names. From the defense, scarce and cracked, through a midfield without much dictate and arriving at the unintimidating display of the new star, there are no more certainties than the injured Courtois, the flashes of Vini and the sweat of Valverde.
Mbappé broke his record for offsides on Saturday (eight), two more than against Pays de Cassel in the Cup in 2023 and Bayern in 2021. In the 13 previous games in Madrid he had accumulated ten. Some figures that close the welcome period and inaugurate a new stage of inspection after a start with more statistics (eight goals, three penalties) than impact on the game.
His assembly with Vinicius still offers significant room for improvement. The Brazilian and Benzema gave each other a pass (in either direction) every 6.2 minutes in 2021-22, the campaign in which they finally hit it off. In 22-23, it rose to 6.7 minutes. With Mbappé, however, the time increases to nine, according to Opta. The South American, who retains his place on the left and with a greater ability to assist, has created eight chances for the Frenchman. On the contrary, three.
The lack of physical finesse has not helped the former PSG player either, a problem that is not new. In his final part of the Parc des Princes, he had already shown signs of less freshness and in the Euro Cup, Didier Deschamps confirmed that he was not in tune. In Madrid, where he began training a week before (August 7) the competition (the 14th), he has been seen out of focus at many times. Vini’s status also displaced him to the center forward.
Less Bellingham and less defense
One step further down, the trace of Jude Bellingham, the surprising nine of Madrid in the first months of the last campaign and now pushed to more management tasks on the stage that was born with Mbappé. At this point last season, he had 10 goals in 17 shots on goal; In this one, he remains scoreless after seven shots on target. Ancelotti has indicated that now, with Kylian, he needs more work from him than goals, and has sent him to the right-handed profile because he sees the left-winger as already occupied between Vini and Mbappé.
The Englishman, further behind, has not contributed much to providing the midfield with a discourse when organizing the game, one of the main failures. The young people have not yet been able to become independent from Modric and the nostalgic memory of Kroos has mutated into a shadow. Of all the newcomers, none has been as questioned as Tchouameni.
From 10 goals in 17 shots on goal at this point last season, Bellingham has gone to zero goals in seven shots this season
Back, the shortage of pieces due to injuries and the club’s inaction in the market has intersected with the decline in performance of its strongholds. Ferland Mendy is no longer an inaccessible full-back and recovers 1.6 fewer balls than last season (4.76 compared to 3.07). Rüdiger’s case is similar and the recovery record has also dropped (3.95-3.55).
A source with access to the locker room warned a few weeks ago, before the latest defeats, that the German’s very regular performance last year was almost an exception in a sawtooth career. At his side, Militão continues looking for his pre-break version of a crusader. Compared to 2022-23, he wins fewer duels (63.7%-54.7%) and recovers 1.2 fewer balls (5.6-4.2). The market opens in two months, although a few days ago the club maintained the idea of going with what they had, which includes a suffering Lucas Vázquez at right back.
Changes in the last month
Since Carletto’s scolding on the first league matchday in Mallorca on August 18 — “we lacked balance and attitude,” he warned — there has not been a calm duel for Madrid, a team without a game structure to cling to in the routine. The intensity and defensive imbalances have been the Italian’s almost daily complaint. On Saturday, he appreciated the efforts of his team for an hour and asked to continue along those lines. The containment system, however, was blown up at 0-1.
The squeak of Madrid football has been constant without Ancelotti having found the key no matter how many changes he has introduced. Until the Metropolitano, he threw miles with the 4-3-3, but the “defensive balance” problems were daily. There he took advantage of Camavinga’s recovery to score a fourth half. No big effects. In Vigo he used Tchouameni as a third centre-back in some situations, and with Dortmund he dispensed with the Frenchman and Camavinga. Turns in search of a square that has not arrived.
Madrid, a team that usually moves well in situations of scarcity and mistrust around it, like last year, today manages abundance, something from which it has not always emerged victorious. The setback of the classic forces him, now, to swerve.
