The impressive winning streak of six consecutive victories by Real Madrid at the beginning of the season was abruptly halted on Sunday evening in their match against Atletico Madrid.
Despite the presence of talented individuals such as Jude Bellingham, Joselu, and Luka Modric, the men in white were unable to be salvaged by any player’s exceptional individual performance during the match. Ultimately, Atletico Madrid effectively prevented their opponents from gaining any significant advantage to regain control of the match.
Ultimately, the spectators fixated their gaze upon the incorrect conclusion of a 3-1 loss. Carlo Ancelotti engaged in a post-match press conference following the disappointing performance of the Merengues, wherein he discussed various aspects such as the team’s formation and defensive strategies employed during the match.
The manager initiated his post-match press conference by providing a comprehensive analysis of the game that transpired at Civitas Metropolitano, focusing on the viewpoint of Real Madrid.
The initial phase of our endeavor was not successful. Our defensive performance has been subpar, characterized by vulnerability in our defensive zone and a lack of assertiveness. Once the team has achieved a 2-0 lead, they have successfully executed their desired game plan by exhibiting strong defensive tactics and actively seeking opportunities for swift transitions. They have performed the task more effectively than we have.
Ancelotti’s tactical decision to employ a 4-4-2 diamond formation with five midfielders and a lone forward during the derby match garnered significant attention and surprise. In providing further clarification regarding the impetus behind the sudden commencement of the experimentation, he stated,
The configuration has undergone modification as we have initiated with a rhombus shape, wherein Modrić has assumed the role of a midfielder, while Bellingham and Rodrygo have been positioned as the two strikers. Joselu’s absence from the game can be attributed to his desire to enhance his ball control skills, which he believed could be achieved by incorporating an additional midfielder into the team. Bellingham’s offensive stance remains unchanged.
The issue at hand did not pertain to the individuals involved in the game, but rather to the vulnerability of our defensive strategy, which was absent in the initial matches. In the span of six games, our team’s defense has only allowed three goals, whereas within a mere 45-minute timeframe, we have already conceded the same number of goals. Our condition has been characterized by fragility. It can be asserted without difficulty. The individual expressed that the evening did not transpire favorably, elaborating on the factors that contributed to its unfavorable outcome.
With the exception of the matches against Celta Vigo and Almeria, Real Madrid has allowed the opposing team to score the first goal in every league game thus far. In response to the prominent statistical observation, Ancelotti expressed his viewpoint:
The matter at hand has been previously discussed and will persist as a topic of ongoing discourse. The significance of this matter cannot be overstated. The adversaries have presented themselves on four occasions, and on three of these instances, we have successfully managed to recover.
Today, our team has made significant progress towards a potential comeback. However, the decisive third goal scored by Atleti has ultimately determined the outcome of the game. The speaker acknowledged that their performance was commendable towards the conclusion of the initial half. However, they expressed that the 3-1 scoreline proved to be insurmountable, making it challenging to mount a comeback.
Among the three departments on the field, it can be asserted that the defense exhibited the greatest degree of disintegration during the derby night. However, Ancelotti declined to attribute blame to any specific players and maintained that the failure was a collective one.
I refrain from engaging in discussions pertaining to individual characteristics. I posit that our defensive performance has been subpar. The team’s lack of cohesion, particularly in the first half, has allowed Atlético to capitalize on the situation.
The three objectives have been replicated through the use of photocopying technology. A pause was taken to establish the opening of the centers, which were inadequately positioned within the region. The speaker acknowledged that their team was not successful in achieving all three goals, particularly in regards to conceding three headers.
Ancelotti subsequently disclosed that he had not yet had the opportunity to review Camavinga’s offside goal from the evening, which has generated considerable controversy.
I have not had the opportunity to observe it. I have received information suggesting that Rüdiger may have been in an offside position, but I have not yet verified this claim.
The coach of Real Madrid expressed admiration for their adversaries, Atletico Madrid, and proceeded to commend their defensive structure as being among the most formidable in the world.
Atlético is recognized as one of the premier defensive teams, not only within the confines of Spain, but also on a broader scale. The individuals in question exhibit a high degree of organization and demonstrate considerable proficiency in combat engagements. Finding suitable spaces can be a challenging task. Attempts have been made from a non-local perspective, resulting in a somewhat limited level of efficacy. The issue at hand can be characterized as defensive rather than offensive.
The attacking prowess of Los Blancos has been subject to significant criticism in recent weeks due to its perceived lack of depth and finesse. Contrarily, Ancelotti declined to endorse that theory.
Vinicius was unable to achieve a goal in the course of these three matches. Rodrygo has made attempts during the match, exhibiting a certain level of risk on several occasions. However, as the available space diminishes, the situation becomes increasingly challenging for all players involved. Thus far, our team has exhibited a certain degree of inefficiency; nevertheless, we have achieved victory in six matches through successful goal-scoring endeavors.
Regarding the decision to have Aurelien Tchouameni as a substitute in this crucial encounter, the manager expressed his perspective.
An attempt has been made to enhance the level of control in the central area of the team, while also providing some respite to Tchouameni, who has been heavily involved in numerous matches, taking into consideration his commitments with the national team.
We refrain from singling out individuals, as I personally find it excessive to single out Modrić. He has not exhibited a commendable performance, similar to that of his fellow teammates. The individual expressed an attempt to increase the vertical dimension in the forward position in order to enhance strategic maneuvering, particularly in light of the team’s recent performance decline. This statement was made in response to a query regarding the perceived underperformance of Luka Modric during the match on Sunday.
Following an analysis of the team’s challenges encountered during their on-field performance, the manager was queried regarding potential alternative courses of action that he might have pursued, given the benefit of hindsight.
The question posed is of considerable merit. Perhaps there were opportunities for improvement in my approach. The clarity of the statement is evident. The individual expressed that it is their responsibility when the team fails to fulfill its obligations.
However, he continued to assert that the formation was not flawed, emphasizing that the team’s poor performance on the day was not attributable to any issues with the formation. The formation is unlikely to undergo any alterations. The outcome can be viewed as a setback that presents an opportunity for improvement.
We experience feelings of sadness and anger, which are consistent emotions that arise in the aftermath of a loss. However, thus far we have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in this task and we persist in maintaining this level of excellence.
Ultimately, Carlo Ancelotti assumed responsibility for the subpar performance exhibited at Civitas Metropolitano.
The responsibility lies with me.