Real Madrid's problem is not the referees

Real Madrid's problem is not the referees

According to Mundodeportivo.

Background

Real Madrid have struggled to find their own style of play in recent games, which has had a negative impact on their results. The defense, led by Alaba and Rüdiger, struggles to control quick attackers, allowing opponents such as Atlético to exploit the weaknesses. The absence of a creative playmaker, like Luka Modric at his best, compounds the problems in attacking play.

Why this is important

The defeat in the derby against Atlético highlights Real Madrid's current problems, which go beyond the refereeing decisions. The team is showing a worrying lack of form, which is reflected in the lack of quality of play and the inability to control the game. This could have long-term implications for the club's league and European ambitions.

Key findings

• Real Madrid's problem is not the referees.
• Real Madrid lost the derby against Atlético 1:2.
• The problem of Real Madrid is not the game, it's football.

Real Madrid lost 2-1 in the derby against Atlético on Sunday. Los Blancos complained about the refereeing decisions after the game and believe the game was influenced by the referee as he failed to send off two Atlético players. But the truth is that there is a much bigger problem at Real Madrid and that is the lack of quality of play. At the moment, Carlo Ancelotti's team is a team that is not convincing, that is not playing and that can only win a game or two with individual class. The derby was another example of this. Ancelotti fielded a lineup that was not suitable for this game. The two central defenders, David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger, were unable to control Atlético's fast players. Alaba made a disastrous impression when Morata's first goal. And the offensive players were also unable to shape the game. A playmaker, like Luka Modric was in his best times, who could play the passes for this game in order to set the scene for the fast players from the front, like Vinicius and Rodrygo, is what Ancelotti is missing at the moment. The result is that teams now know exactly how to play against Real Madrid. They sit back and wait for their opponents to make individual mistakes, or they wait to take advantage of Real Madrid's own defensive mistakes - and that's exactly what Atlético did. It's hard to believe that in seven games they've only scored one goal from play. All other goals were penalties or set pieces. Ancelotti's system is completely out of fashion. Two years ago it was still innovative and one could still say that it had a certain tactical sophistication. But now it's a system that's outdated, that doesn't work anymore — and most importantly, it doesn't have the players who can currently play that system. The players are two years older and less and less is expected of their individual qualities. Real Madrid goes into the international break with more dudas que certezas, with the Barcelona sacándole seis puntos en la Liga tras solo siete jornadas.

What happens next

Real Madrid faces the challenge of analyzing its own problems and finding solutions to improve performance. Carlo Ancelotti may be forced to rethink his tactics and formation to make the team competitive again. Given the upcoming games, a quick reaction could be crucial to reduce the gap to the top teams and prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Frequently asked questions

What is Real Madrid's main problem according to the article?

Real Madrid's main problem is the lack of quality of play, not the referees.

Who criticized Real Madrid's line-up for the derby?

Carlo Ancelotti has named Real Madrid's line-up for the derby.

Why is Real Madrid's performance now considered inadequate?

The performance is viewed as inadequate because the team is not convincing and can only win games with individual class.

Which players are Real Madrid missing to shape the game?

Real Madrid lacks a playmaker like Luka Modric in his best times to shape the game.

What is the reaction of other teams to Real Madrid?

Others Teams now know how to play against Real Madrid by sitting back and waiting for individual mistakes.

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