Carlo Ancelotti cut a disconsolate figure as Real Madrid were blown away by Barcelona in the Super Cup final.
Los Blancos saw their title stripped away in brutal fashion in Jeddah as La Blaugrana overpowered them with a 5-2 win.
The Catalans were dominant throughout and Ancelotti faced questions over the level of a range of players as his team struggled to coexist with their El Clasico rivals.
Ancelotti made a series of changes, with his lack of squad depth clearly visible in Saudi Arabia, but refused to make excuses as the season heads into the second half.
“You have to defend well to win these games. Barcelona deserved to win, they defended better than us,” he said at full-time.
“The team doesn't look good, but I'm not going to point the finger at anyone. Mbappe played a good game, he was probably the only one, he got a goal.
“I'm not going to name names here, but we were not good from the first minute and did not perform.”
Ancelotti refused to be drawn in if this match affected his plans in the January transfer window, having previously indicated he would not make a move for new players.
Real Madrid have a busy few weeks ahead of them, including a Copa del Rey last-16 match in midweek, and two UEFA Champions League games to decide whether they reach the knockout stages.
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