Real Madrid have been slammed by the Spanish media after slipping to a shock 3-1 home defeat by AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The loss was Madrid’s second in Europe this season, leaving the reigning champions 17th in the league table, while they are already nine points behind Barcelona in LaLiga, albeit with a game in hand on their rivals.
Having lost the first El Clasico of the season 4-0 a little over a week ago, Madrid were torn apart by Milan on Tuesday, and have now conceded seven goals in their last two matches.
Spanish outlet Sport believes the club is in ‘total crisis’, while Marca have focused on Madrid’s frailties at the back by accusing the team of having ‘no defence’ and delivering ‘scandalous’ performances in their two most recent outings.
Madrid full back Lucas Vazquez admitted after Tuesday’s loss that the team’s defensive statistics are ‘very bad’, but insisted the whole side needed to take responsibility rather than just the back four.
Real Madrid were beaten 3-1 by AC Milan on Tuesday and have been accused of ‘scandalous’ defending
The pressure is ramping up on Carlo Ancelotti, with Sport claiming Madrid are in ‘total crisis’
Ancelotti is yet to get the best out of summer signing Kylian Mbappe this season
‘It is a very bad figure [the number of goals conceded],’ he told Movistar. ‘Defending, like attacking, is a collective thing and we have to emphasise this.
‘We have to keep our heads up because this is a long way off, there is still a long way to go and Madrid always fight until the end.’
Madrid have made a habit of fighting back after blips in recent seasons, but patience is wearing thin at the Bernabeu, with fans making their feelings clear during and after Tuesday’s match.
Aurelien Tchouameni was singled out for jeers at the Bernabeu before being taken off at half time, and AS believe the midfielder has become ‘a problem’, with Ancelotti’s trust in him ‘completely broken’.
Madrid are reportedly open to selling Tchouameni if they can receive a suitable offer, just two years after signing him for £85m.
Meanwhile, Fede Valverde was also hauled off at the break on Tuesday, leading to his wife, Mina Bonino, hitting out at Ancelotti on X as she claimed ‘they’re taking me to jail’ if she said what she really wanted to about the Italian manager’s tactics.
Sport has also raised concerns over the lack of impact from young stars Endrick and Arda Guler this season.
The pressure is ramping up on Ancelotti, who is yet to get the best out of Kylian Mbappe since his summer arrival, while Jude Bellingham has gone almost six months without a goal for the club.
Madrid supporters are already calling for the return of Zinedine Zidane for a third spell in charge, and former Los Blancos player and youth team coach Santiago Solari is also highly regarded.
The dream appointment is Xabi Alonso next summer, but Madrid may not be willing to wait until then if their current run of form continues.
England star Jude Bellingham has not scored a goal for Madrid in almost six months
Aurelien Tchouameni was hauled off at half time on Tuesday, and Ancelotti’s trust in him is believed to be ‘completely broken’
Fede Valverde was also taken off at the break, and his wife, Mina Bonino (pictured) hit out at Ancelotti on X
Madrid fans are losing faith with Ancelotti, and some are calling for the return of Zinedine Zidane
Xabi Alonso is the dream appointment next summer, but Madrid may not be able to wait that long
They are now in real danger of not qualifying automatically for the last 16 of the Champions League, with tricky trips to Liverpool and Atalanta on the horizon.
Madrid finish the league phase by hosting Red Bull Salzburg before travelling to Brest.
But time is running out for them to turn things around and save their season, with Ancelotti having numerous problems to fix and rapidly losing the support of the club’s fanbase after the last two disastrous results.
Madrid are back in action on Saturday when they face Osasuna in their final game before the international break, and they cannot afford to fall any further behind Barcelona in the title race.
