Real Madrid managed to clinch a late victory against Valencia on Friday night as they resumed play after the Christmas break. However, the festive spirit was noticeably absent in the dressing room.

According to Marca, manager Carlo Ancelotti was by his team’s performance at halftime, as they entered the break trailing by a goal. He criticized the players for their “apathy, laziness, lack of sacrifice, and failure to support each other.” During his halftime speech, Ancelotti raised his voice, marking the second instance of tension between him and his squad this season. He reminded them of the importance of maintaining their lead in La Liga while expressing frustration over their attitude and insufficient defensive effort.

The first instance of tension occurred after consecutive defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan, prompting Ancelotti to hold a team meeting aimed at turning the season around. Although he has been pleased with the team’s response following losses to Liverpool and Athletic Club, the match against Valencia revealed signs of the attitude that contributed to Real Madrid’s first crisis of the season.