Real Madrid continued their poor form after being defeated 3-1 at home at the Santiago Bernabeu by AC Milan on Tuesday evening in the fourth round of the Champions League group stage.
As a result, Real Madrid, who had previously lost 4-0 to Barcelona in the local Clasico at the same stadium, now have 6 points and sit in 17th place in the standings, with Milan moving up to 18th place, separated only by goal difference.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “Defensa Central”, Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti’s position at Real Madrid is now under threat. Ancelotti expressed his frustration by holding Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez responsible for the loss to Milan.
Ancelotti believes that not signing a right-back to replace Carvajal will ruin the team’s season, as Vazquez is unable to fulfill this role adequately.
The newspaper further reported that Ancelotti has decided to make several changes to the team’s lineup for the upcoming matches. The first of these changes will see Lucas Vazquez moved to the bench, with Valverde filling in at right-back until a replacement is signed in January.
Another change is to give Brazilian striker Endrick a chance to start in place of Kylian Mbappe. Ancelotti reportedly told his assistant that signing the French player has been one of the main reasons for the team’s underperformance this season.
Mbappe, who has failed to reach his usual level with Real Madrid, has been underwhelming since the start of the season, missing several easy chances in front of goal.
In an expected development, club president Florentino Perez immediately entered the dressing room after the match and criticized both Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy for their poor performances. Perez expressed unprecedented frustration with the duo, as neither has contributed offensively or defensively.
Perez has decided to place both Mendy and Tchouameni on the transfer list for the upcoming window after their shocking performances, particularly Tchouameni, who has failed to offer any meaningful impact on the field.
Perez also held Ancelotti accountable for the loss, blaming his tactical decisions and line-up choices for the defeat, stating that the tactics were unsuitable given the quality of players at his disposal.
The newspaper also reported that Perez instructed Ancelotti to keep Mbappe on the bench until he returns to his best form. Perez believes Mbappe’s wastefulness in front of goal is costing the team valuable points.
The report concluded by stating that Perez has issued a final warning to Ancelotti. He has ordered the inclusion of Endrick and Arda Güler in the starting line-up for upcoming matches, and if the situation does not improve, Ancelotti could ultimately face dismissal.