The Spanish media are starting to lay the blame for Real Madrid's terrible form on the shoulders of Carlo Ancelotti after Los Blancos lost another game in a terrible season.
The Italy boss took charge at the Bernabeu in 2021 and led them to two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey and two Champions League trophies, including one in May.
When the Spanish giants lifted the famous cup after a successful season, they were on a high, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior shining, while superstar Kylian Mbappe was closing in.
This season, however, things have deteriorated sharply for Real, with the side languishing in second place in the league, four points behind Barcelona, and an abysmal 24th in the Champions League after three defeats in five games.
And things went from bad to worse for them on Wednesday night as they succumbed to another miserable defeat, losing 2-1 to Atletico Bilbao after an 80th-minute winner from Gorka Guruzeta.
Spanish publication Marca has now turned against Ancelotti and refuses to blame the players alone any longer.
One article read: 'The easy thing is to point the finger at Kylian [Mbappe] and not addressing the real problem, which is the team's plan. Or better said: the lack of a plan. Where does Madrid play? Three and a half months of competition have passed and no one knows.
'They have already lost five games this season, while they only lost two games in the entire 2023/24 season. Madrid doesn't work in reality. And as much as Ancelotti says after each defeat that the problem has been discovered, it is clear that the solutions he proposes do not work.
'[Toni] Kroos left and the bank did not operate according to a different plan. In the Madrid dressing room they say that tactically they are working exactly the same as last season, as if another player has left and not the one who had the team's plans. Madrid, even when they win, are not playing as they should. And when they face a big team, they lose.”
The publication ensured that Mbappe was not made a scapegoat, despite the French star having been disappointing since his move from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
The attacker missed a penalty against Bilbao, just as he did against Liverpool in the Champions League last week, and seems to have hit the target.
They also point out that the ever-reliable Federico Valverde was responsible for Guruzeta's goal after failing to get a nutmeg.
Alejandro Berenguer Remiro had given the home side a deserved lead in the 53rd minute before Jude Bellingham dragged Real into the match with a 78th-minute goal.
Madrid face a tough run of games as they travel to Girona and then Atalanta in the Champions League in the coming weeks.
They have battled against big teams this season, losing to the likes of Lille, AC Milan, Barcelona and Liverpool.
The media criticism comes after Ancelotti was reportedly called into crisis talks with Real president Florentino Perez following the club's struggling run of form.
According to the report, the two regularly meet for discussions when Real are going through a difficult period, but given the club's worrying performances in recent times, these conversations have become increasingly important.
Ancelotti and Perez will discuss why they believe the team is struggling, while the meeting will also determine whether the Italian still has the club's full backing.
The report goes on to claim that Real's hierarchy feel Ancelotti's side are in their toughest period of the past five years and that Mbappe's penalty miss against Liverpool summed up their struggles.
However, it is acknowledged that Ancelotti is struggling with so many injuries and a lack of depth in key positions, while there is a feeling that more should have been done in the summer.
Players like Vinicius Jnr, Rodrygo, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Aurelien Tchouameni are all currently on the sidelines, while others like Bellingham and Mbappe are struggling to find form.
Publicly the club has pointed to the busy schedule and lack of rest as the reason for so many injuries, but privately they are investigating why the team is struggling physically, with Real's fitness coach Antonio Pintus under fire.
However, Ancelotti continues to support his players and the report claims the 65-year-old is ready for the challenge and is keen to turn the situation around.
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