Florentino Pérez was absent from Real Madrid's disappointing defeat to Lille, missing what many consider the team's worst performance in the last three years. Though Pérez usually visits the dressing room after matches, his absence didn’t stop the club's message from being delivered. José Ángel Sánchez, the club's general director, was there to support the team along with other directors.

Despite maintaining a calm exterior, the leadership at Real Madrid is beginning to feel unease over the team's recent form. It wasn’t just the loss that raised concerns, but the lackluster display against Lille. Ancelotti's men were outplayed in terms of intensity, desire, and physicality, as the French side dominated for most of the game.

"We’ve hit rock bottom," was a phrase heard in the Madrid dressing room after the match. Ancelotti tried multiple tactical changes during the second half, but little improved. The team’s struggles have been apparent since the start of the season, even during victories, and it’s clear something is not working. A telling statistic: while Lille covered 117.9 kilometers, Real Madrid only managed 107.1, reflecting the stark difference in effort.

It’s not just the quantity of kilometers that worries the coaching staff, but the lack of intensity with which they are being run. The phrase "you don’t win with just the shirt" has been circulating, but it seems the players haven’t fully absorbed the message.

There are also concerns over discipline, as three yellow cards—Bellingham, Modric, and Rüdiger—were issued in frustration. The loss of focus during matches, highlighted by simple mistakes, is alarming. The time for excuses is over. It’s no longer just about results—it’s about the image the team is projecting.

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