Ancelotti Attributes Final Real Madrid Season Stumbles to Defensive Woes.

Carlo Ancelotti, now at the helm of the Brazilian national team, has publicly addressed the factors he believes contributed to his underwhelming final season managing Real Madrid. While the Italian tactician departed the Santiago Bernabéu with a trophy cabinet already brimming with silverware earned during his previous tenure, his last campaign fell short of expectations, leaving him without a major title to mark his exit.

Real Madrid endured a season of near-misses and unfulfilled potential. The club finished second in La Liga, trailing arch-rivals Barcelona. They also suffered defeats in the finals of both the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, losing to Osasuna and Barcelona, respectively. In European competition, Madrid’s Champions League journey was cut short at the quarter-final stage, where they were eliminated. Further compounding the disappointment, the team reached only the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.

Despite boasting a squad largely unchanged from the previous season, and with the highly anticipated arrival of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain expected to bolster their attacking prowess, Real Madrid failed to deliver the silverware their supporters demanded. Ancelotti points to a significant contributing factor: a crippling injury crisis that decimated the team’s defensive line.

"The overriding issue was the loss of our entire first-choice defensive structure," Ancelotti explained in an interview with AS. "We lost Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao to long-term injuries, and Antonio Rüdiger was playing through a significant injury problem."

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The absence of key players like Carvajal and Militao undeniably destabilized Real Madrid’s backline. Carvajal, the seasoned right-back, has been a mainstay in the Madrid defense for years, providing both defensive solidity and attacking impetus. Militao, the Brazilian center-back, had established himself as a crucial component of the central defense, forming a strong partnership with Rüdiger.

The impact of these absences forced Ancelotti into makeshift solutions, further disrupting the team’s overall balance. Federico Valverde, primarily a midfielder known for his energy and versatility, was often deployed as a makeshift right-back, while Aurélien Tchouaméni, a defensive midfielder, was occasionally tasked with filling in at center-back.

"Don’t forget that I often had to play Valverde at right-back and Tchouameni at center-back, which meant that the midfield was also significantly weakened," Ancelotti stated. "We lost solidity in the defensive line, and that led to us losing titles."

The deployment of midfielders in defensive roles undoubtedly had a knock-on effect on the team’s midfield stability and attacking transitions. Valverde’s energy and dynamism were missed in the central areas, while Tchouaméni’s defensive prowess was less effective when playing out of his natural position.

The statistics from Real Madrid’s last season under Ancelotti paint a picture of defensive vulnerability compared to previous campaigns. While they still possessed a potent attack, their goals conceded tally increased noticeably, highlighting the impact of the defensive disruptions.

Real Madrid’s defensive record in the previous season, prior to the injury crisis, showcased a tighter and more organized unit. The partnership of Militao and Rüdiger in the center of defense provided a solid foundation, allowing the team to build from the back with confidence. Carvajal’s presence at right-back offered both defensive stability and attacking width.

However, with the injuries to key defenders, Real Madrid’s defensive cohesion suffered. Communication breakdowns, positional errors, and a lack of familiarity between the makeshift defensive pairings became increasingly apparent. This defensive instability ultimately contributed to the team’s inability to consistently secure victories and challenge for major titles.

The ripple effect of the defensive crisis extended beyond the backline, impacting the team’s overall tactical approach. Ancelotti was forced to adjust his game plans to compensate for the defensive weaknesses, often sacrificing attacking flair for greater defensive solidity. This tactical shift, while intended to mitigate the damage, ultimately hindered the team’s ability to play with the same attacking freedom and creativity that had characterized their previous successes.

In addition to the injuries to key defenders, Ancelotti also alluded to the contribution of academy players, specifically mentioning Raul Asensio. While praising Asensio’s performance, his emergence also underscores the depth of the defensive crisis that forced Ancelotti to rely on inexperienced players.

"Fortunately, [Raul] Asensio came from the youth academy and played very well," Ancelotti noted.

The reliance on academy players, while providing valuable experience for the youngsters, also highlighted the lack of depth in the squad, particularly in the defensive positions. The absence of experienced cover options further compounded the challenges faced by Ancelotti in navigating the injury crisis.

Ultimately, Ancelotti’s assessment of his final season at Real Madrid points to the devastating impact of the defensive injury crisis. The loss of key players like Carvajal and Militao, coupled with Rüdiger’s injury struggles and the subsequent deployment of midfielders in defensive roles, significantly weakened the team’s defensive structure and overall balance. This defensive instability, according to Ancelotti, was a major contributing factor to Real Madrid’s failure to secure major titles and ultimately led to his departure from the club.

The situation also underscores the inherent risks involved in relying on a relatively small core of players, particularly in key positions. While Real Madrid possessed a star-studded squad, the lack of adequate cover options in defense proved to be their undoing when faced with a significant injury crisis.

Looking ahead, Real Madrid’s management will undoubtedly take lessons from this experience and prioritize strengthening the squad’s depth, particularly in the defensive positions. Investing in reliable cover options will be crucial to ensuring that the team can withstand future injury crises and maintain a consistent level of performance throughout the season.

The club has already begun to address this issue in the transfer market, seeking to bolster their defensive ranks with new signings. The acquisition of talented and experienced defenders will be essential to providing the team with the necessary depth and resilience to compete for major titles in the seasons to come.

Ancelotti, now focused on his new role with the Brazilian national team, will undoubtedly be following Real Madrid’s progress with interest. While his final season at the Bernabéu may not have ended as he had hoped, his legacy at the club remains secure, and his insights into the challenges faced during that season offer valuable lessons for the future.

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Ahmad Zein Salamo: Ahmad Zein Salamo is a dedicated football journalist at Sports News Break, covering the global game with a sharp eye for detail and passion for storytelling. With years of experience following Europe’s top leagues and international tournaments, he delivers insightful analysis, match previews, and breaking news with journalistic integrity and depth.

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