Real Madrid are shockingly bad. It is infuriating as a fan to see Real Madrid so down in the trenches that there is no way back up anymore.
Real Madrid players have come out and said, "We can make a comeback at the Bernabeu," after their most recent loss to Arsenal in the Champions League.
They have done it before. On so many occasions, teams have counted them out, and they have made a brilliant come back at the Santiago Bernabeu. This time feels different.
Real Madrid have gone as far as they could have with Carlo Ancelotti. This is the end of the road for him. Real Madrid are terrible collectively at a lot of things. A lot of things. Those things make or break games like the one against Arsenal.
Real Madrid have failed their five biggest tests this season
Real Madrid have faced these big tests in 14 games this season. Four against Atletico, Two against Manchester City, Atalanta and Barcelona, one against Athletic Club, Liverpool, Arsenal and Milan. They have won five, drawn two, and lost seven.
For a club that believes it is the best in the world, that is simply abhorrent. Ancelotti has done a brilliant job at the club in his second tenure. He has won so many titles, but if he cannot win with the best players in the world, if he cannot set them up in a big game like this, then he has to leave. The five they have won this season, were not against the biggest of the big teams.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona were Real Madrid's biggest tests by far, and they failed miserably in every single one. The combined scoreline against them is 14-2. That is simply shocking.
It is not one or two games. Real Madrid have been humiliated seven times this season. Nothing has changed from their first loss to Barcelona to this Arsenal match. The same mistakes keep happening. The same gaps keep opening. The same problems keep showing up.
You cannot just blame Ancelotti, I know that. The players are at fault, the board is at fault too for not making enough defensive signings that could reduce the impact of Dani Carvajal's injury, but Ancelotti has enough brilliant players to do much, much better than what he did.
The players are to be blamed, yes, but the way he has set up the team needs to be studied as a managerial malpractice. Real Madrid offered no threat going forward. The most talented attack in the world looked talentless. Real Madrid have so many incredible players, but the fact they all collectively failed shows that it is not just them.
Arsenal have worse players than Real Madrid. Objectively. But the tactical difference between the two sides was so, so huge. It is insane.
I have been vocal about this on Twitter, to my friends, and in my articles: no matter what happens, Carlo Ancelotti should leave Real Madrid at the end of the season. Even if he wins the treble, his time is up. Either he leaves, or he gets sacked — no other outcome.
Now I have yet another game to prove my point.