Makélélé blasts Madrid after derby loss: “Absolutely nothing”

Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 derby defeat to Atlético and are already six points behind Barcelona, arriving at the first international break with plenty of frustration. In the middle of this new era associated with Mourinho, former Real player Claude Makélélé turned up the heat with sharp criticism.

Makélélé pinpoints the mess

As reported by RMC Sport, the former midfielder—now a Liga analyst on ESPN/Disney+—didn’t hold back after the match at the Metropolitano. Makélélé argued that the team has no foundation to build from, saying “Il n’y a rien, rien, rien” and adding “Rien, absolument rien”, targeting the lack of chemistry and a clear game plan.

Questions around Mbappé and Vinícius

Beyond the scoreline, his critique was also tactical. RMC Sport highlights concerns over offensive patterns and how the players occupy space, with a specific emphasis on potential overlap between Kyllian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. The piece also cites a chart from L’Équipe suggesting both players had the same average position during the derby, as a symbol of the team’s collective lack of structure.

A tough return stretch

With the international break underway, attention shifts to what comes next. According to RMC Sport, the schedule after the pause is packed: Villarreal, Roma in the Champions League, Sevilla, Leipzig, and then a Clasico on 25 October 2026 against Barcelona. October could be decisive for the direction of this season at Real.