Did Real Madrid ignore huge squad problems to sign Kylian Mbappé?

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Knocked out CL by Arsenal 

©TM/IMAGO

All the talk around Real Madrid ahead of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final was of La Remontada – the Spanish term for comeback. The Madridistas generated a ferocious atmosphere outside the Santiago Bernabeu before kick-off but Carlo Ancelotti’s men failed to replicate that passion on the pitch as they surrendered their European crown with a 2-1 defeat on home soil. Arsenal deservedly progressed into the semi-finals 5-1 on aggregate but in truth, Mikel Arteta’s men won the tie in North London last week.

Declan Rice inspired them to a famous win with two outstanding free-kicks but Madrid’s capitulation was glaring and representative of the deficiencies in their squad. Kylian Mbappé arrived to unparalleled fanfare last summer as Madrid splurged their budget on the French superstar’s signing-on fee and wages. While Mbappe has delivered 33 goals, there’s legitimate criticism that Madrid’s team is now unbalanced. Furthermore, it’s difficult to deny the notion that the Spanish giants neglected improving weaknesses in their squad in their unwavering pursuit of the former PSG striker.

It’s unfair to be overly critical of Mbappe’s contribution this season given his goal return, which has already matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut season in Spain. But Madrid are in serious danger of ending the season without winning LaLiga or the Champions League, which would represent a disaster and Carlo Ancelotti would likely be dismissed. Barcelona have already defeated Madrid three times this season in El Clásico, and they face off in the Copa del Rey final with Hansi Flick’s men heavy favourites to win La Liga.

Madrid have failed to deliver in the big games and fingers have been pointed at their unbalanced attack. Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham are all fantastic individual players but there’s a lack of cohesion between attack and midfield. There were huge gaps in midfield throughout Arsenal’s win in the Bernabeu and they badly lacked the playmaking ability of Toni Kroos from a deeper role. Madrid’s problems this season resemble the issues that PSG faced when they formed a front three of Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi – superstar players but often willing to do the defensive work required.

While Madrid failed to replace Kroos in the summer, the weakest area of Ancelotti’s squad has unquestionably been in defence. At full-back, Dani Carvajal’s season was over in October after suffering a horrific injury while Ferland Mendy’s injury problems have created issues at left-back. Éder Militão has missed the majority of the season at centre-back, while David Alaba’s recent injury issues have been well-documented. Antonio Rüdiger has often been Madrid’s only fit senior centre-back and the failure to strengthen in defensive areas has been incredibly costly to Madrid’s quest for silverware.