Carlo Ancelotti frustrated by attitude from Real Madrid players – statistics show difference

Real Madrid have only been beaten once this season, and are only three points behind league leaders Barcelona, but much of the discourse has been centred around diagnosing their problems. Los Blancos are still not looking convincing for 90 minutes, and manager Carlo Ancelotti believes one of the reasons is the attitude of their players.

Thibaut Courtois and Lucas Vazquez both joined Ancelotti in speaking about a lack of intensity in their football in the first half, after they went into the break two goals down to Dortmund. Ancelotti was asked why there was such a dramatic difference between the first and second periods.

“We were very timid in the first, we had little intensity. With a low block, without pressing, they controlled quite well. We had chances, two crossbars. But we were timid. We showed that we can play with more energy, with more risk. We have to apply the pressure, we have the capacity to do it.”

“There was order, but there was a lack of pressure on the ball. And so, they scored two goals against us without creating much danger. The team was balanced, also in the first half, yes, but that pressure was missing. And we did it in the second.”

It was then asked of him what he thought of the formation, and why at times Real Madrid, in his own words, lack intensity.

“That the system is not the most important thing. It is the attitude that the players bring, with whatever system. If we play with 4-4-2 in the first half, the same thing happens to us. I want to say that the most important thing is the attitude of the players.”

“It’s hard to say, I think we should learn from this second half. With a very high intensity. The goal is to start like this, not wait until we concede twice first. I don’t think we can play 90 minutes like we played the second half, but we must achieve it by being a little more balanced. And we are going to achieve it.”

Those comments are not accidental, and Ancelotti has talked of the attitude previously this season not being quite there. Relief say that the issue of intensity and attitude can be seen in the statistics. Against Dortmund, Los Blancos ran around 50km, five less than their opponents. That figure rose by 6.6km in the second period, with Real Madrid running slightly more than the Germans (56km).

Carlo Ancelotti thinks one of #RealMadrid‘s issues is they are not working as hard as their opponents. They ran six kilometres less than Dortmund in the first half. (Relevo) pic.twitter.com/ok2QsmLsvn

— Football España (@footballespana_) October 23, 2024

The same outlet reports that it is not uncommon for Real Madrid’s total distance covered to be lower than that of their opponents, and he feels they are not working hard enough. The Italian has also remarked in the last week that ‘not everyone is at 100%’ physically, which clearly has an impact too. It is not just distance covered, but over a series of data points, his team lag behind their opponents on a regular basis.

FItness coach Antonio Pintus generally times his programme for the players to be at their peak in March or April, so it is not surprise that they are some way off that currently. All the same, much of the focus on the addition of Kylian Mbappe has been centred on his fit with Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham in an attacking sense, but with neither the Frenchman nor the Brazilian renowned for their effort and defensive work off the ball, that may well be where Ancelotti’s mind is centred.

For most games, it is unlikely to harm Los Blancos too much, but for the big clashes, Ancelotti will need to ensure his players can turn up the heat when they need to. Fundamentally, Mbappe has replaced Kroos the line-up, and it is notable that the 25-year-old’s arrival would make Real Madrid less fit than with the 34-year-old. Mbappe alone is not responsible for that 5km difference alone though. Ancelotti seems to have a point when he points to the collective effort, which currently their players cannot make, either mentally or physically.

Image via Sport.RO