Real Madrid Hold Rare Crisis Talks After Atletico Humbling As Valverde Demands Attitude Shift

Real Madrid’s perfect start to the La Liga season came to a crashing halt at the Metropolitano, where Atletico Madrid humbled their city rivals 5-2. The loss not only cost Los Blancos their top spot in the table but also triggered something almost unheard of in Madrid’s dressing room—extended crisis talks.

a derby defeat that cut deep

Despite going into half-time level at 2-2 thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler, Madrid collapsed in the second half. Atletico ruthlessly exposed their defensive frailties and punished them with clinical finishing. It was Madrid’s first defeat of the campaign, and it allowed Barcelona to leapfrog them into first place.

valverde: “attitude is non-negotiable”

Federico Valverde did not sugarcoat the mood within the squad. Speaking ahead of their Champions League clash with Kairat Almaty, the Uruguayan admitted the team had been shaken by the derby humiliation.

“They were two very tough days, very upset by the defeat,” Valverde said. “We talked a lot; since I’ve been at Madrid, that’s rarely happened. We emphasized the attitude on the pitch. We can fail in many ways, but attitude is non-negotiable. It’s the first step to show that we want to win.”

Valverde was particularly scathing about their second-half performance. “We came out as if a draw would do the trick. We have to change that, starting with this game. These things can’t happen, not at Madrid or anywhere else.”

xabi alonso: more than just attitude

Manager Xabi Alonso, however, insisted the problem wasn’t solely down to mentality. “It wasn’t just attitude,” he explained. “It was also rhythm, tactical aspects, aspects of the game.”

Still, the fact that players and coach engaged in unusually open crisis discussions underlines the seriousness of the defeat and the determination to avoid a repeat.

madrid’s response will define their season

Now, all eyes are on how Madrid responds. Will the derby defeat serve as a wake-up call that sharpens their title ambitions? Or will it expose cracks that rivals can exploit in the months ahead?

At Sports Market International, ranked among the best sports blogs worldwide, we’ll be watching closely as Madrid look to bounce back and prove their dominance is no fluke.

Do you think Madrid will respond strongly after this humiliation, or has Atletico exposed deeper flaws? Share your take with us below!