According to reports, Real Madrid’s season ended after another bitter defeat in El Clasico (4-3). Another failure for the Whites, who handed Barcelona another title—the third they’ve gifted them this season. Real has transformed from a solid, stable team with distinct football into a broken, lifeless, and uncompetitive side, with Lucas Vazquez as the main symbol of this situation, along with two stars who have collapsed.

Real Madrid’s problems are evident, but it seems some club officials either haven’t noticed or have refused to address them since the team’s weaknesses began to show. The planning has been disastrous, the squad is limited, and lacks quality in certain positions. The coach hasn’t been able to find solutions or inspire the team to win again. El Clasico was the story of a foretold defeat.

It’s clear that Lucas is not a full-back, even though both the club and the bench have insisted on it all season. The two goals conceded to Barcelona this Sunday—the first from an unjustifiable corner and the fourth gifted like a youth player—confirm what has been happening all season.

The right flank is a major weakness, and Ancelotti has rolled out the red carpet for opponents in every match. But the disaster isn’t that Lucas is playing or deployed in this position—it’s that the management and bench have trusted him to fulfill this role, even though it’s been proven throughout the season that this flank is a real disaster. What message does this send to the academy when young talents are ignored, and worse, when it’s believed that a player out of position is better than any young specialist, even if inexperienced?

But two stars have decided to go missing for much of the season. No, we’re not talking about Rodrygo, who has inexplicably turned into an average player overnight, but about Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham—two players who have gone silent. Real Madrid’s two biggest stars, once the main contributors to the team’s past successes, are now among the primary culprits of its collapse.

Especially Vinicius, who has forgotten how to play since he was denied the Ballon d’Or. His statement, “If necessary, I’ll work ten times harder. They’re not ready,” has become his biggest lie. Since December, the Brazilian has become ineffective: just 7 goals and 5 assists are his weak stats. He no longer dribbles past anyone, creates advantages, makes the right decisions, and has completely forgotten how to defend.

Even Alvaro Benito, a respected analyst known for his calm commentary, strongly criticized Vinicius this Sunday on Cadena SER: “You can’t play football like Vinicius, defending with a glance, refusing to track back, without scoring, without pressing. His game resembles Rodrygo in the Copa final. Walking, defending with a glance. It’s terrible. It’s shameful. He should be substituted. Vinicius’ performance is shameful, shameful.”

The same situation has happened with Bellingham. The Englishman, once a global football phenomenon, has turned into an average player. The ball no longer flows through his feet, he’s lost his freshness and unpredictability, and he refuses to occupy the second striker role—perhaps because Mbappe has taken those spaces. The player who used to work defensively, help, press, and even support in deeper positions is no longer seen—a problem that plagues the team.

Mbappe is the only bright spot in attack, but he’s not a player who contributes defensively. Add to this that neither Vinicius nor Bellingham do so either, and the result is three isolated players, plus a midfield lacking compactness and a patched-up defense. The truth is, competing under these conditions is impossible. Remember, Real was 7 points ahead of Barca in January and is now 7 points behind. That’s a five-game swing. Something unbelievable.

There are only two interpretations for why Ancelotti has stubbornly trusted underperforming players: Either he sees them as his guard, those who brought him great success, and has decided to die with them; or he requested reinforcements but was denied, wanting to show management they were wrong—a big revenge. Only Ancelotti knows, and perhaps one day he’ll reveal it in his memoirs.