Kylian Mbappe's arrival at Real Madrid was envisioned to expand their Champions League domination, but he was muzzled by Arsenal as Los Blancos crashed out in the quarter-finals, leaving coach Carlo Ancelotti on the brink.
The holders find themselves picking up the pieces after Arsenal surgically dispatched them with a 5-1 aggregate triumph on Wednesday and now it is Ancelotti who needs a miracle comeback to survive in his post.
The Gunners reached the final four with a 2-1 away win and will face Mbappe's former side Paris Saint-Germain, soaring without the French superstar, who left in search of European silverware with the record 15-time winners.
Mbappe limped off with an ankle injury in the final stages against Arsenal, leaving Madrid's 'remontada' ambitions in tatters and his coach under the microscope.
The Italian's team is deeply flawed this season, a far more fragile outfit than the side which powered to a Champions League and La Liga double last season.
To put the defeat into context, this will be the just the third time in 12 seasons that Madrid have failed to reach the Champions League semi-finals.
Mbappe's arrival, despite his strong form in 2025 and 33 goals across all competitions, is one of the main factors in Madrid's downturn, with Ancelotti unable to accommodate him and Vinicius Junior together without destabilizing the team.
It is clear Ancelotti has not found the right strategy to use them, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes together in the biggest matches.
"We have to make more collective moves rather than individual ones," noted goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after the elimination, with Madrid reliant on star power rather than consistently outplaying opponents.
Ancelotti has deployed Mbappe in a center-forward role but he drifts frequently, and in the past has preferred to play off the left flank -- Vinicius' preferred spot.
Last season Bellingham and Joselu Mato both operated through the middle at times, and although the former is naturally a midfielder, the Englishman's physicality and presence was a huge boon for Madrid.
Against Arsenal and in the absence of any better ideas to break down Mikel Arteta's rock-solid defense, Madrid slung balls into the box in search of a target man like Joselu, who left last summer for a Qatar.
"We put in a lot of crosses but this year we don't have a Joselu, a born center-forward up there," observed Courtois.
'No problem'
Ancelotti has been frustrated with his side on a regular basis this season, for their lack of "collective commitment" to defending.
The 65-year-old threatened Vinicius with substitution during the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad because the Brazilian was not running enough.
"That warning brought out the best in Vinicius -- from then on, he increased the pace and quality," said the Italian.
Ancelotti has been open about his future, knowing for weeks he may not be kept on for the last year of his contract.
For some time speculation has mounted that Madrid will look for a new coach in the summer, with Jurgen Klopp and Xabi Alonso the favorites.
"It could be that the club decide to change (coach), it could be this year -- or the next when my contract expires, there's no problem," said Ancelotti on Wednesday.
Madrid's defeat on Wednesday was their 12th of the season compared to just two in the whole of the 2023-24 campaign.
Toni Kroos' departure last summer is another factor, with Madrid's midfield not convincing this year.
The Arsenal post-mortem and any subsequent finding that can be utilized are even more crucial given Madrid still have trophies on the line.
They are four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, firmly in the title race with a Clasico to come in May which could decide the title.
Barcelona have won the previous two derbies, scoring nine goals in total to Madrid's two.
Madrid also face their arch-rivals in the Copa del Rey final on April 26, and will participate in the Club World Cup this summer, although Ancelotti may not be in charge by that point.
If Mbappe is to end the season with a major trophy and Ancelotti is to go out with the bang his Madrid legacy merits, there is no time to lick their wounds.
