"He is always in a weak position" - Former Real Madrid coach comments on Carlo Ancelotti receiving criticism this season

Former Real Madrid manager Jorge Valdano has opened up on how Los Blancos managers are always under pressure to deliver. His comments come after current boss Carlo Ancelotti was criticized for Madrid's poor run of form earlier this season.

Ancelotti was also questioned for failing to bring the best out of Kylian Mbappe in the final third. Many believed there was a lack of understanding between Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo in the attack earlier this season and blamed the Italian tactician for the same.

During an interview with German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, Valdano spoke about Ancelotti's critics. He said (via Madrid Universal):

"It doesn't matter what the name of the Real Madrid coach is, he is always in a weak position, three games into the crisis."

Valdano added:

"In other words: done. We are talking about the current coach who has won the championship and the Champions League."

Ancelotti was particularly criticized for Real Madrid's poor run of form in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) this season. Los Blancos defeated Stuttgart 3-1 in their opening UCL game but lost to Lille before defeating Borussia Dortmund 5-2.

Subsequently, Real Madrid suffered two consecutive defeats on matchday four and five against AC Milan and Liverpool, respectively. These results saw Ancelotti receive criticism from several quarters.

Los Blancos secured a much-needed 3-2 win over Atalanta BC in their sixth UCL game of the season. They are currently placed 20th in the 2024-25 standings, having secured nine points from six games.

In the LaLiga 2024-25 campaign, Ancelotti's men have been excellent despite several injury setbacks. They are currently second in the standings, having accumulated 40 points from 18 games. They are one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

How has Kylian Mbappe performed for Real Madrid this season

Real Madrid CF v Sevilla FC - La Liga EA Sports - Source: Getty

Mbappe joined Los Blancos from Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent in July 2024. While many expected that he would hit the ground running, the Frenchman struggled to deliver consistently in attack.

He is gradually getting back to his best, and has scored four goals in his last five games across all competitions for Madrid. Overall, he has netted 13 goals and registered three assists in 23 games this season. Mbappe remains a key player for Ancelotti in attack.