How Real Madrid’s poor planning ruined a season full of promise | OneFootball

At the start of the season, there was a lot of excitement around Real Madrid. The team had just won the UEFA Champions League, and Kylian Mbappe had finally joined the club after years of speculation.

The fans were hopeful, the squad looked strong, and everything seemed to be going in the right direction. But as the months passed, things began to fall apart.

The initial joy surrounding Mbappe’s arrival and the signing of promising young talent like Endrick quickly faded and there are several reasons behind it.

Perez’s transition

Florentino Perez did not address the core issues. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

It must be noted that Florentino Perez has changed the club’s transfer approach in recent years.

Once known for splashing big money on global stars—the famous “Galacticos” policy—he had now shifted to signing either free agents or cheap young talents. This strategy had its merits, but it left several cracks in the squad.

At the beginning, Mbappe was the headline signing, and Endrick had been secured a year and a half earlier. Jesus Vallejo also returned to the squad.

However, these moves didn’t cover the losses of key players like Toni Kroos, Nacho, and Joselu. The biggest gap came in midfield after Kroos decided to retire. No proper replacement was brought in, which left the team struggling in that area.

Carlo Ancelotti had to adjust. At first, he relied on physical players in midfield. But as things did not go as planned, he turned to Dani Ceballos, someone he had not used much in his previous seasons.

It was a last-minute change that showed the lack of planning in building the squad.

Defensive troubles and poor use of the academy

Real Madrid faield to replace Nacho. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Nacho’s departure was also deeply felt. Vallejo, who was expected to fill in, barely got any minutes and failed to make an impact. Injuries to key defenders like Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao exposed the thin depth of the backline.

With Rafa Marin sold, Raul Asencio was brought from the youth setup, but even then, the coach seemed unsure.

In fact, it was not until fans started demanding it that Ancelotti finally gave Asencio more minutes. This was not a decision based on tactical planning, but rather pressure from supporters.

Federico Valverde, often played out of position to help the defence, also suffered from the lack of a proper right-back being brought in. The team ended up rotating players just to cover the gaps.

Attacking power, defensive weakness

Up front, Real Madrid had firepower. Mbappe and Endrick came in to support the attack, easing the pressure on Joselu’s departure. But while they provided goals, Mbappe didn’t offer much help defensively.

Joselu’s importance has been felt. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP) (Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Ancelotti’s decision to play three attackers backfired. The team struggled to press and maintain its shape, and Vinicius Jr. often played with too much freedom. That lack of structure hurt the team overall.

In the end, Florentino Perez and Ancelotti built a 22-man squad, with two players for each position. But it has not worked out as hoped.

Ancelotti has had to use several players in unfamiliar roles—Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga—all trying to fill the gaps left by a poorly planned transfer window.

Now, as the season draws to a close, many fans are frustrated. The excitement of the early season has turned into disappointment.

Despite having big names, the squad simply was not balanced. The lack of proper replacements and a solid strategy has left Real Madrid with a failed campaign and supporters wondering where it all went wrong.