Real Madrid: The day after the humiliation against Arsenal, Ancelotti punished his players

The morning after the chastening 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals dawned with a palpable sense of disappointment and urgency within the Real Madrid camp. The heavy loss at the Emirates Stadium was not merely a setback; it was a humbling experience that reverberated throughout the club, from the highest echelons of the board to the silent corridors of the Valdebebas training complex. The air was thick with the understanding that such a performance was unacceptable for a club of Real Madrid’s stature and history, and immediate action was expected.

Carlo Ancelotti, the experienced Italian manager known for his calm demeanor and tactical acumen, is not one to shy away from addressing his players directly when standards fall short. In the immediate aftermath of the demoralizing defeat in London, Ancelotti wasted no time in making his feelings known. He understood that a swift and decisive response was necessary to prevent the disappointment from festering and to refocus the team’s attention on the crucial challenges that lay ahead, both in La Liga and the return leg of the Champions League tie.

The day following the humbling loss, instead of granting his players a customary day of rest to recover from the physical and mental exertion of the match, Carlo Ancelotti opted for a different approach. He decided to hold a training session at Valdebebas, but this was not to be a routine recovery session. Ancelotti made the significant decision to conduct the training behind closed doors, away from the prying eyes of the media and the external pressures that often surround the club.

This decision to hold a closed-door training session was a clear indication that Ancelotti intended to have a frank and honest discussion with his players, demanding a period of collective introspection and self-assessment. He wanted his squad to confront the reality of their performance against Arsenal and to understand the reasons behind the heavy defeat. The atmosphere at Valdebebas that day was undoubtedly tense, a stark contrast to the usual more relaxed environment.

The match at the Emirates Stadium had unfolded in a manner that deeply frustrated Carlo Ancelotti and the Real Madrid faithful. After a first half that appeared to be relatively controlled, with both teams sizing each other up, Ancelotti’s men suffered a dramatic collapse in the second half against an Arsenal side that proved to be relentless and clinical in their execution. The three unanswered goals that Arsenal scored in the latter part of the game painted a damning picture, leaving Real Madrid facing a mountain to climb in the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The 3-0 defeat not only jeopardized Real Madrid’s chances of progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League but also sent a palpable chill through the Madrid dressing room. The players, accustomed to success and dominance on the European stage, were left reeling from the magnitude of the loss and the manner in which they had been outplayed by Arsenal.

In an immediate reaction after the match, even before the team had returned to Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti had already made his intentions clear. He decided against giving his players any respite, emphasizing the need for immediate reflection and accountability. “I want to be very clear: we have to look in the mirror and understand what went wrong,” the Italian coach reportedly told Defensa Central, his frustration with the attitude and performance of his players on the pitch clearly evident in his words.

Ancelotti’s message was unambiguous: the defeat was not solely attributable to isolated individual errors but rather stemmed from a collective and tactical failure across the team. He stressed the critical importance of rigorous self-criticism, particularly concerning the tactical mistakes made during the match and the team’s inability to effectively manage the key moments that ultimately swung the tie in Arsenal’s favor.

The defensive organization on Declan Rice’s two impressive free-kicks, the spaces that were left for Arsenal’s dangerous attacking players to exploit, and the noticeable lack of intensity and urgency displayed by Real Madrid in the second half were among the specific points that Ancelotti reportedly highlighted for criticism. “We paid for our errors,” Ancelotti insisted in his post-match remarks. “We have to be lucid, not just individually, but also collectively,” he added, underscoring the need for a unified understanding of their shortcomings.

Following this sobering defeat, Ancelotti’s decision to hold a behind-closed-doors training session at Valdebebas was a strong and deliberate move. The session, conducted away from the scrutiny of the public and the media, was intended to provide a safe and private environment for the players to confront the reality of their performance and to engage in honest and frank discussions about what went wrong against Arsenal.

It is almost certain that the atmosphere during this closed-door session was far from comfortable. The players were undoubtedly forced to look themselves in the mirror and acknowledge their respective shortcomings in the match. Ancelotti, while known for his calm and thoughtful approach, would have undoubtedly emphasized the gravity of the situation and the need for a significant improvement in their upcoming matches.

While maintaining a composed and reflective demeanor, Ancelotti would have likely stressed the paramount importance of unity and a renewed sense of intensity within the squad in the crucial weeks ahead. He would have reminded his players of the collective strength and experience that resides within the Real Madrid dressing room and the need to draw upon those qualities to overcome this setback.

The message from Ancelotti would have been clear: Real Madrid, even after this significant blow, cannot afford to dwell on the past. They must learn from their mistakes, regroup quickly, and focus all their efforts on the remaining challenges of the season. The margin for error, particularly in the Champions League, has become razor-thin.

Despite the heavy task that awaits his team in the return leg against Arsenal, Carlo Ancelotti also sought to emphasize a crucial point: Real Madrid still holds its destiny in its own hands with the second match to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu. While the performance at the Emirates Stadium had undoubtedly left its mark and raised serious questions, Ancelotti was keen to stress that there remains a chance, a full 90 minutes of football to be played in front of their passionate home supporters, to attempt to turn the tide of the tie.

“There are still 90 minutes left,” Ancelotti declared, his message intended to instill a sense of hope and determination within his squad. “We have to give everything at the Bernabéu, with the support of our fans. Nothing is finished as long as there is life,” he asserted, his words serving as a rallying cry, an appeal to his players to summon their fighting spirit and believe in the possibility of a comeback.

Ancelotti’s message was a clear call to arms, urging his players to react with pride and resilience in the face of adversity. Real Madrid needed to reorganize their approach, engage in further deep self-assessment, and confront the stark reality of a decisive return match against a formidable Arsenal side, where any further errors could prove to be fatal to their Champions League aspirations.

Looking ahead to the crucial second leg against Arsenal next Wednesday, Carlo Ancelotti will also need to carefully manage his squad in the intervening period. With a La Liga match against Alavés scheduled before the Champions League encounter, Ancelotti might opt to rotate his starting lineup for the domestic fixture. This would serve the dual purpose of keeping key players fresh and avoiding any unnecessary injuries before the high-stakes clash with Arsenal.

Such rotations could also provide an opportunity for players who have seen less playing time in crucial matches, such as promising young talents like Endrick, Arda Güler, or Brahim Diaz, to gain valuable minutes on the pitch and potentially stake a claim for a role in the return leg. These younger players, often waiting in the wings for their chance to shine, might be called upon to play a key role in the attempt to overturn the deficit at the Santiago Bernabéu, offering a fresh dynamic and perhaps an element of surprise against Arsenal.