Real Madrid: 3 mistakes Carlo Ancelotti keeps making over and over again
Join me on this very short journey back in time. Earlier in the season, Real Madrid drew 0-0 against Villarreal. This happened twice actually. The team also came up short when they lost 2-1 to Espanyol. There were more goalless draws along the way until today against Osasuna and Cadiz. All these happened in the league. Let’s not forget a humiliating performance recently in the UEFA Champions League as well where Los Blancos lost 1-0. Lastly, let’s remember the most recent loss; 4-0 to Barcelona.
It’s difficult to really find a comparison between different setbacks especially when it’s within a few months. A lot can change from September to March. Let’s give credit where it’s due: We have seen the changes in real-time for example when it comes to Barcelona. However, with Real Madrid, there are underlying factors. Well, if you want to bring it down to basics then there’s one: Carlo Ancelotti. However, it’s unfair to keep it at that without pulling up a magnifying glass to three of his most crucial mistakes that he is adamant about repeating time and time again.
Lack of Rotations and Ideas
The first one is quite obvious but we cannot possibly ignore it. This is one of the earliest problems we have seen coming from Ancelotti. As time went on and games were regularly scheduled twice a week, we witnessed Ancelotti name the same starting eleven in every game. When asked about his lack of rotations, he always made it clear that things would change when a player feels fatigued. In his defense, he has done that at times. However, he has ignored it as well.
Not only do the fans know who will be starting in almost every game, but so does the opposition. It’s embarrassingly easy to set up your team against Real Madrid. The main reason why they still come out victorious is because of individual brilliance. A great pass by Luka Modric, a fancy bit of skill from Vinicius, or Benzema being Benzema. Against better teams, you don’t see it as much. The reason is that these teams have capable players who will keep up throughout the full 90 minutes. Once that happens, things go downhill.
Ancelotti doesn’t know how to do anything except employ the 4-3-3. If that backfires, the team is suddenly confused, lost, and outplayed. Anyone needs to see this in full action, just re-watch the latest Clasico. A manager with the experience that Ancelotti has cannot be outplayed this easily. Yet unfortunately, that has been the case and there are absolutely no signs of it changing. It’s shocking to see especially this late into the season where the manager should have more ideas after getting to know the team more.