ALARMING STATISTICS! Real Madrid’s Slump is Just the Tip of the Iceberg – Is Ancelotti “Wearing Out” His Team?

Recent underperformances by Real Madrid have sparked a wave of concern among fans and football observers. Beyond the disappointing results, alarming statistics are emerging, highlighting persistent fatigue within the team. This situation raises questions about coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad management.

The unstable performances of Real Madrid’s stars stem from long-term fatigue. Carlo Ancelotti himself must bear a share of responsibility for this situation.

Following the recent win against Villarreal, the Italian coach complained about the lack of rest time afforded to Real Madrid’s players. They had to play five games in just 15 days, with only 66 hours of rest between their Champions League match against Atlético de Madrid and their La Liga clash against Villarreal. Ancelotti even threatened to refuse to play if his players didn’t get at least 72 hours of rest.

However, Ancelotti himself has contributed to the players’ physical exhaustion. Statistics reveal that the Italian coach is the “laziest” in terms of substitutions in La Liga this season. This reluctance to rotate the squad has led to excessive physical wear and tear on key players. Federico Valverde even stated after the Villarreal match, “Am I injured? No, I’m just tired.”

In La Liga 2024/25, Real Madrid averages 3.79 substitutions per match. Since the start of the tournament, Ancelotti has made only 106 substitutions in total. Both these figures are the lowest in the league. After 28 matchdays, Ancelotti has only made the maximum number of substitutions (5 players) in 7 matches. In comparison, league leaders Barcelona have done so 20 times, and Atlético Madrid 24 times.

Jude Bellingham and his teammates are showing clear signs of fatigue. This situation raises questions about the team’s ability to maintain its performance level in the long term.

Ancelotti is not usually a coach who hesitates to make substitutions. Last season, Real Madrid used all its substitutions in 19 matches, averaging 4.2 substitutions per match. So, why this sudden reluctance to rotate the squad this season?

The injury crisis is an objective reason to consider. Long-term injuries to Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal have significantly reduced Ancelotti’s personnel options. Moreover, Real Madrid’s transfer market activity has fallen short of expectations, with no defenders being recruited despite Ancelotti’s requests. In many matches, Ancelotti has had to reposition Aurélien Tchouameni as a central defender and use Valverde as a right-back.

Real Madrid also lacks backup options in attack and midfield, following Toni Kroos’s departure. However, this doesn’t mean Ancelotti has no players to use. The problem lies in his excessive caution with young talents like Endrick and Arda Guler. Endrick has played only 496 minutes in total, while Arda Guler has had 1088 minutes, but has still been the target of mockery from Dominik Szoboszlai.

Ancelotti seems to place his trust in a limited group of experienced players, at the expense of young talents. This approach limits the team’s tactical options and contributes to the exhaustion of key players.

Many young players, who train regularly with the first team, are ignored by Ancelotti. They have potential and need playing time to develop. Jacobo Ramon has played only 102 minutes, while Diego Aguado, Lorenzo Aguado, Chema Andres, Gonzalo Garcia, and Daniel Yanez have had even less playing time.

Ancelotti’s excessive caution with a limited group of experienced players is harming Mbappé and his teammates, who are subjected to excessive workloads. This situation raises questions about the team’s ability to maintain its performance level in the long term.

The alarming statistics and player testimonies highlight a squad management problem at Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti must take measures to prevent his players’ exhaustion and ensure the team’s competitiveness across all competitions. The need for tactical flexibility and player rotation has never been more apparent.