Dani Carvajal offers blunt self-criticism, admits Real Madrid are not up to standard

In the wake of one of the most humiliating nights in the modern history of Real Madrid, captain Dani Carvajal stood alone to face the music. Following the team's shocking 3-2 elimination at the hands of Albacete—a side currently competing in Spain's second division—the veteran fullback took full responsibility for the disaster. In a tense mixed zone at the Carlos Belmonte stadium, Carvajal offered a brutally honest and self-critical assessment of a squad that appears to be in a complete freefall.

While many of the younger stars avoided the cameras, the captain made it clear that there would be no excuses for the "soporific" performance that led to their Copa del Rey exit.

“We have hit rock bottom in a resounding way. In these clear moments, you must stand up and face the consequences, and that is what we are doing. The ones most responsible are us, the players,” Carvajal stated, visibly shaken by the result.

When pressed by journalists to explain the tactical or physical reasons behind the collapse, Carvajal refused to hide behind cliches. His sincerity was a sharp contrast to the typical "we must keep working" rhetoric often heard after defeats.

“If I knew the reason, we wouldn’t have been eliminated. You don’t have to be very smart to answer that: a second-division team beat us. Congratulations to them,” he highlighted. By acknowledging Albacete's merit while simultaneously slamming his own team's lack of competitive edge, Carvajal highlighted the "magnitude of the blow" that has sent shockwaves through the Madridismo.

The elimination in Albacete comes just days after a painful loss to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. For Carvajal, this is not just a dip in form; it is a systemic crisis that requires a complete psychological reset. Despite the bleak scenario, the captain attempted to offer a glimmer of hope for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.

“Starting tomorrow, it will be time for deep self-criticism. There are still two very important competitions left (La Liga and the Champions League), and we are going to fight for everything,” he assured. However, he was quick to remind his teammates that words are meaningless without a change in intensity. “The message is evident: we are not at our best. We have to work twice as hard and give much more than we have delivered so far. That is the reality.”

Real Madrid is a club where the demands are higher than anywhere else in the world, and Carvajal, a winner of six Champions League titles, knows this better than anyone. Before ending his intervention, he sent a direct message to the fans who traveled to see the team and those watching in disappointment across the globe.

“We ask for forgiveness. We are not—and I am the first to admit this—up to the standards and demands of this club. Between now and a few months, we will leave our skin on the pitch to change this situation,” he concluded. His words left a clear impression: the "slap in the face" from Albacete has left a deep mark on the locker room, and the leadership of the "old guard" will be the only thing that can save the Álvaro Arbeloa era from ending before it truly begins.

With the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup now gone, the pressure on the 15-time European champions is reaching a boiling point. Carvajal’s "rock bottom" admission serves as a wake-up call for the "Galáctico" roster. If the team does not respond this Saturday against Levante, the institutional crisis could lead to even more drastic changes at Valdebebas.