Ancelotti Takes Blame For Real Madrid Slump After Las Palmas ...

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti took the responsibility for his team's starting slump to the ... [+] season and said "we have to find a solution quickly" following a 1-1 draw at Las Palmas.

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti took the responsibility for his team's poor start to the season and said "we have to find a solution quickly" following a 1-1 draw at Las Palmas.

After a second stalemate on the road, Madrid has managed just five points in three outings at the start of its 2024/2025 La Liga title defence while bitter rivals FC Barcelona lead the pack on nine points with a perfect 100% record.

"It was a bad first half," Ancelotti admitted in his post-match press conference. "We lack balance. We have to find a solution quickly. I have not noticed any improvement compared to the Mallorca game. We are not a solid team."

"It is difficult for us to have the solidity of last year," Ancelotti added. "We have to improve fast. I have to be clearer in the strategy to get it [across the players] on the field."

Trying to find positives in a bad situation, though, Ancelotti claimed that "these games have shown me a lot of things to improve - that's the good part."

"It's a football problem. The game is slow, without mobility. The problem is quite clear. It is me that must look for the solution. That's what I have to do," he insisted, putting the blame on himself and off his men as any strong leader should.

All this being said, Ancelotti refused to agree that his team is suffering from mental fatigue.

"The problem is not mental, it is not a lack of character or attitude. Things are not going well. We can't let points slip away like we did in the two away matches."

With many believing that Madrid dearly misses its now-retired former playmaker Toni Kroos, Ancelotti explained how his team is suffering in the midfield where it is "not compact" and "there is a lot of distance between the lines".

"The attacking [line] is good. [But] when the ball gets up front, the opponent has its defenders well positioned."

In its last match before the September international break, Real Madrid meets Real Betis in the Bernabeu for what could be a must-win affair if Barca has seen off Real Valladolid more than 24 hours previously on Saturday afternoon.