Makelele criticises Real Madrid after derby loss: no game plan or clear ideas

Frenchman Claude Makélélé, former player of Real Madrid, has launched a scathing critique of the royal team following their 2-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the capital derby, pointing out the lack of harmony, game plan, and clear ideas under the management of coach José Mourinho.

Real Madrid are experiencing a disappointing start to the season, trailing Barcelona by six points after seven rounds of La Liga, ahead of the first international break of the season.

Makélélé, who currently works as an analyst for La Liga on Disney+ and ESPN, said after the match: "There is no harmony, neither between the players nor with the coach. Mourinho needs to talk to them. The team is weak, there is no game plan and no clear ideas. There is nothing, nothing, nothing... there is absolutely nothing. We need to demand more from them."

A former Real Madrid player has specifically focused on the deployment of players in the attacking line, criticizing the lack of clarity in the team's attacking movements, amid the overlap between Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.

According to a chart prepared by 'L'Équipe', Mbappé and Vinícius had very similar positions during the derby, with their average positioning being comparable. This was seen as an additional indicator of the lack of clarity in Real Madrid's attacking performance.

Concerns are growing within Real Madrid as the team approaches a busy fixture schedule following the international break, at a time when José Mourinho will need to find quick solutions to address the issues of cohesion and organization that were clearly evident during the defeat against Atlético Madrid.