Real Madrid beat Las Palmas 4-1 at Santiago Bernabéu to go top of La Liga, but Carlo Ancelotti remains at the eye of a hurricane of criticism. The Italian coach appears increasingly bemused rather than angry with each passing press conference. After all, as he said, “I heard we’re playing really bad soccer, but we’re leaders.” The statement, full of irony and a hint of frustration, reflects a curious scenario: a team at the top of the table but without unanimous praise.
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The win over Las Palmas sends a message on the field
On the pitch, Real Madrid left no doubt in their powers of recovery. The team that had been at a disadvantage in the scoreboard managed to turn the match around with authority. What happened in the match was marked by what Ancelotti called a "complete" performance. The squad showed not only attitude but also efficiency in finishing, something that had been in question during the previous matches.
Beyond the three points, the blowout win serves as a reminder that leading La Liga is no simple task, especially with Barcelona as a rival. The problem is that, for part of the Madrid fanbase, leading is not enough. They want spectacle, and for some this Real Madrid team is still far from it, even with players of extraordinary quality.
Criticism worthy of Real Madrid
There is not in the wide world a most demanding club such as Real Madrid. Sporting a white jersey out there carries a meaning few clubs would ever come closer to. So, it goes through this prism that the criticism directed at Carlo Ancelotti goes: it does not matter if at the top, for many-well-the football played needs to be "dignified of the merengue tradition ".
Ancelotti does not flinch in the face of this pressure but doesn't appear willing to accept it meekly either. "Normally, with Real Madrid, the criticism is harsher," he said, his tone resigned and disconcerted all at once. And he's not wrong. It's as if Real Madrid need to beat not only their opponents but also the almost utopian expectations of their supporters, too.
The problem with "beautiful soccer”
The criticism against Ancelotti is not directed at the results, but rather at the style of play. Fans and analysts complain about soccer they see as predictable, sometimes too pragmatic. Still, the coach himself deconstructs this view: "I don't see 'super teams' out there. Sometimes we play well, sometimes we don't. Nobody's perfect."
This analysis touches on a sensitive point. After all, what does perfect soccer look like? Even the very concept of "playing well" is subjective. To some, this means overwhelming attack. For others, it means rigid, all-encompassing control of the game. Real Madrid, under Ancelotti, seems to seek a balance that is not always easy to strike. Injuries and adjustments
Adding to the result and performance pressure is a headache in the squad. Ancelotti doesn't have his important pieces. There are serious injuries such as Camavinga and Tchouameni that continuous changes must be given. This Monday, in front of Las Palmas, those who started the match in Madrid did recovery work while the rest trained with tactics and shots to goal.
These adjustments, while necessary, affect the team’s consistency. Even so, the victory over Las Palmas showed that Real Madrid has the depth to adapt and overcome adversities. Goals from players like Joselu and the defensive solidity of Rudiger prove that the squad is capable of meeting high expectations.
The Champions League on the horizon
If the victory over Las Palmas was a sigh of relief, the next challenge promises to be tougher. Real Madrid will go up against RB Salzburg in the Champions League, a competition where the historical weight of the club is greater than ever. For Ancelotti, every Champions League match is an opportunity to consolidate himself and prove that the criticism doesn't undermine his strategy.
As the team prepares for that clash, one question will keep nagging: Is this good enough leadership in La Liga to shut the mouth of critics? The Champions League has always been so unpredictable, and the squad and the coach are surely in for an examination.