On a day that promised to consolidate Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, the Merengues were held to a one-goal draw against Atlético de Madrid, letting a valuable opportunity slip away after Girona's slip-up against Real Sociedad. However, it is the analysis of the reasons behind this draw that is of most concern to Madrid fans and, in this case, the spotlight shines squarely on Florentino Pérez.
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The Real Madrid president becomes the main person to blame for the misfortune on the pitch. The draw not only hurts because of the points lost, but also because of how it came about: in the last seconds of the game, with a goal from Marcos Llorente that leaves Los Blancos with a bitter taste. The responsibility lies with the shortage of available centre-backs, a situation that could have been avoided.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti was forced to improvise, fielding Dani Carvajal at centre-back alongside Nacho, as injuries to Antonio Rüdiger, Militao and Alaba left the team with just one fit centre-back. The lack of foresight in the transfer market is directly attributed to the management of Florentino Pérez, who failed to bring in more defensive reinforcements despite recurring injuries.
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The responsible
Ancelotti's sensational performance is marred by off-field decisions. Although Real Madrid have managed to successfully survive the defensive losses so far, long-term profitability looks compromised. With signings impossible at the moment, Ancelotti faces a tricky challenge to maintain defensive solidity for the remainder of the season. Florentino Pérez is undoubtedly at the centre of criticism for a squad management that has left the team in a vulnerable position.
