Ancelotti Blames Madrid’s Struggles on ‘Lack of Intensity’

Ancelotti has pointed to Real Madrid’s “lack of intensity” as a key issue affecting the team’s performance this season. Despite being second in La Liga with 18 points, just three behind leaders Barcelona, the Italian coach believes his squad is not playing at its full potential.

Madrid’s summer signing of Kylian Mbappe raised expectations, but the team has struggled to dominate so far. Ancelotti highlighted two specific areas where Madrid needs improvement: “lack of intensity in defense” and “slow ball circulation.”

After Real Madrid’s first loss of the season, a 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League, Ancelotti admitted that the team is not where it should be. However, he remains optimistic. “We’re not there yet, but we’re not far off,” he said during a pre-match press conference ahead of their La Liga clash with Villarreal.

The coach acknowledged that several players have not yet hit their best form. “Some players haven’t reached their peak yet, but that’s normal. We just need patience,” he explained. He emphasized the need for sharper defensive play and faster movement in attack to make Madrid more competitive.

Reflecting on the defeat in France, Ancelotti took a philosophical approach, stating, “Sometimes a defeat brings you back to reality, and I liked how the players responded.” The Italian coach appeared unfazed by questions regarding Real Madrid’s depth. “We don’t lack players. We have plenty of options and a lot of variety. Even if we haven’t shown our full quality yet, nothing is missing,” he added.

Looking ahead, Madrid will face Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. The third-placed Yellow Submarine have had a strong season, suffering only one defeat, a 5-1 loss at home to Barcelona. Madrid will need to step up their intensity if they want to close the gap with their Catalan rivals.