Real Madrid Humiliated in Super Cup Final: Ancelotti Laments Defensive Frailties and Lack of Football
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Real Madrid suffered a devastating 5-2 defeat to arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, a performance that left head coach Carlo Ancelotti deeply disappointed and questioning his team’s defensive capabilities. The Italian manager didn’t mince words in his post-match press conference, lamenting the ease with which Barcelona sliced through his defense and the overall lack of cohesive play, especially in a dismal first half. While a glimmer of hope emerged in the second half with a man advantage, Real Madrid ultimately failed to capitalize, surrendering their Super Cup title to a revitalized Barcelona under new manager Hansi Flick.
The match started brightly for Los Blancos, with Kylian Mbappé capitalizing on a defensive error to give them an early lead. However, the initial promise quickly evaporated as Barcelona’s attacking prowess overwhelmed Real Madrid’s defense. By halftime, the scoreline read a shocking 4-1 in favor of the Catalan giants, leaving Ancelotti and his team with a mountain to climb. Raphinha added a fifth for Barcelona after the break, further compounding Real Madrid’s woes. While Rodrygo managed to pull one back from a free-kick after Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny received a red card, it proved to be mere consolation.
Ancelotti, visibly frustrated, pointed to his team’s defensive shortcomings as the primary reason for the defeat. He highlighted the lack of compactness and individual errors that allowed Barcelona to create and convert chances with alarming ease. The Italian tactician stressed the importance of collective defensive work, emphasizing that the team’s failure to function as a unit contributed significantly to the lopsided scoreline. He refused to single out individual players for blame, stating that the entire team was culpable for the defensive breakdown.
Beyond the defensive frailties, Ancelotti also expressed his disappointment with the team’s overall approach to the game, particularly in the first half. He admitted that Real Madrid’s strategy relied too heavily on long balls, deviating from their intended style of play. The manager emphasized the importance of playing possession-based football and criticized his team for failing to implement the planned tactics. He conceded that losing was a possibility, but the manner of the defeat, especially the lack of football played in the first half, was particularly painful.
The second half, despite Barcelona being reduced to ten men, offered little respite for Real Madrid. Ancelotti’s half-time talk, urging his players to actually “play football,” seemed to have little impact. While the team managed to create a few opportunities, they failed to convert them into meaningful chances. The numerical advantage offered a glimmer of hope, but Real Madrid couldn’t capitalize on it, highlighting their struggles to create clear-cut scoring opportunities even against a depleted opponent.
Ancelotti’s post-match comments reflected a deep sense of disappointment and concern. He acknowledged the need for the team to face the reality of their performance, learn from the mistakes, and move forward. The loss served as a stark reminder of the defensive vulnerabilities that have plagued Real Madrid this season and the necessity of addressing them urgently. The manager stressed that the team must improve its defensive organization and individual performances to avoid similar debacles in the future.
The defeat marks a significant setback for Real Madrid’s ambitions this season and raises questions about their ability to compete with the top teams. The manner of the loss, particularly the defensive fragility and the inability to impose their style of play, will undoubtedly be a cause for concern for Ancelotti and the Real Madrid faithful. The team now faces the challenge of bouncing back from this humiliating defeat and regrouping for the upcoming challenges. Their next fixture, a Copa del Rey clash against Celta Vigo, offers an opportunity to redeem themselves and regain some lost confidence. The pressure will be on Ancelotti and his players to deliver a convincing performance and put the Super Cup disappointment behind them.
