The Spanish media have begun attributing Real Madrid’s poor performance to Carlo Ancelotti after another loss in a dismal season.

Since taking over at the Bernabeu in 2021, Ancelotti has led the team to two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, and two Champions League trophies, including one in May.

At that time, Madrid was celebrating success, with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior excelling, and superstar Kylian Mbappe seemingly on the horizon.

This season, however, things have drastically declined, with the team sitting second in the league, four points behind Barcelona, and a disappointing 24th in the Champions League after three losses in five matches.

Things worsened on Wednesday as they fell 2-1 to Atletico Bilbao, conceding a late goal from Gorka Guruzeta.

The Spanish outlet Marca has shifted blame onto Ancelotti, refusing to fault the players solely.

An article stated: “It’s easy to blame Kylian [Mbappe] instead of addressing the real issue, which is the team’s strategy—or lack thereof. What is Madrid’s approach? Three and a half months into the season, no one knows.

“They’ve lost five games already, while they only lost two throughout the 2023/24 season. Madrid isn’t functioning well, and despite Ancelotti claiming the issues are identified, his proposed solutions are ineffective.

“[Toni] Kroos’s departure affected their plans. Reports suggest that tactically, they are operating the same as last season as if losing a key player didn’t matter. Even in victories, Madrid’s performance isn’t what it should be, especially against top teams, leading to losses.”

The publication refrained from making Mbappe a scapegoat, despite his underwhelming performance since joining from PSG.

He missed a penalty against Bilbao, mirroring his failure in the Champions League against Liverpool, indicating a lack of confidence.

Additionally, Federico Valverde was at fault for Guruzeta’s goal after failing a nutmeg attempt.

Alejandro Berenguer Remiro had put the home team ahead at 53 minutes before Jude Bellingham equalized in the 78th minute.

Madrid faces challenging fixtures ahead, including matches against Girona and Atalanta in the Champions League.

They have struggled against strong teams this season, losing to Lille, AC Milan, Barcelona, and Liverpool.

The media scrutiny follows Ancelotti being called for crisis talks with Real president Florentino Perez after the team’s poor form.

Reports suggest they frequently meet during tough stretches, but given the recent performances, the discussions have taken on greater significance.

Ancelotti and Perez will address the team’s struggles and whether the coach still has full club support.

The report notes that the club hierarchy believes Ancelotti’s squad is experiencing its toughest period in five years, with Mbappe’s penalty miss against Liverpool highlighting their issues.

However, there is recognition that Ancelotti is facing challenges due to injuries and depth issues, with a consensus that more could have been done in the summer.

Key players like Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, and Aurelien Tchouameni are sidelined, while Bellingham and Mbappe have struggled.

Publicly, the club cites a congested schedule and fatigue as reasons for the injuries, but privately they are examining the squad’s physical struggles, with fitness coach Antonio Pintus under scrutiny.

Despite this, Ancelotti continues to support his players, and reports indicate he is determined to resolve the situation.