Real Madrid’s recent humiliation at the hands of Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final has sent shockwaves through the club, leaving President Florentino Perez furious and prompting serious reflections on Carlo Ancelotti’s future and potential changes.
Calciomercato report how the 5-2 defeat in Jeddah marks the second embarrassing loss to their arch-rivals this season, following a 4-0 drubbing in La Liga last October. This latest setback has not been well-received by the Madrid faithful, particularly Perez, who is known to despise such public humiliations.
Ancelotti’s position is now under scrutiny. While no immediate changes are planned, a series of meetings involving club leadership and the Italian coach are scheduled to address the team’s underperformance. The trust in Ancelotti has significantly diminished, and all aspects of the current situation are being evaluated.
Despite securing two trophies this season (European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup) and maintaining a strong position in La Liga and the Champions League, there are growing concerns about the team’s playing style and defensive vulnerabilities. The lack of clear tactical identity and the inability to dominate matches, especially against top opponents, are major points of contention.
Real Madrid’s struggles against elite teams have become a glaring issue. Besides the two humiliating losses to Barcelona, defeats against Milan and Liverpool in Europe, and a recent loss to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga have raised serious questions about the team’s competitiveness at the highest level.
While Ancelotti’s immediate future seems secure, Perez is already planning for succession. Xabi Alonso is reportedly the top candidate to take over, with any potential change likely to occur at the season’s end.
In response to these challenges, Real Madrid are considering a return to the transfer market in January. The defence, in particular, has been identified as an area needing reinforcement. There are discussions about potentially accelerating a move for Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could provide versatility in both full-back and centre-back positions.
The club is debating whether immediate transfers are necessary or if promoting youth players could address the current issues. However, Ancelotti’s reluctance to give significant playing time to academy prospects has been another point of criticism.
