Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his side's lack of intensity and energy, not tactical failings, were to blame for Saturday night's 2-1 La Liga defeat to local neighbours Atletico Madrid.
Madrid went behind early when conceding yet another set-piece goal, hit back through a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, but were then outplayed during the closing stages as Atletico deservedly sealed a second consecutive La Liga derby win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu through Arda Turan's smartly taken 15 yard strike.
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The result came after Madrid had also lost the preseason Super Cup to their neighbours, and also in the wake of an embarrassing 4-2 defeat at Real Sociedad's Estadio Anoeta in La Liga last time out, meaning Los Blancos now have just three points from their first three 2014-15 games.
The Italian coach told his post match news conference that this was not a crisis situation, but some hard work and self-analysis was now required from his players.
"We played well in first half, not so good in second half, just like Anoeta," Ancelotti said. "In second half our rhythm dropped. To beat Atletico you need intensity, we had that first half when we made chances. In this moment, we are paying for making small errors. That happens sometimes in football, things do not go for you.
"We reacted very well to their goal and used a lot of energy to equalise. We paid for that a bit in the second half.
"I am concerned as it's clear that our start to the season has not been good. Fortunately it has only begun. The situation was the same last year and we fixed it with hard work and self-criticism."
The defeat again drew attention to Madrid having sold midfield workers Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria during the summer transfer window, with new galacticos James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos struggling when Atletico turned the screw towards the end of the game.
Ancelotti denied that he needed to change the 4-3-3 system, which worked well with Alonso and Di Maria last year, or else play without so many attack-minded players in his XI.
"The system is not the problem," he said. "We know it very well, we must get some players used to it. The problem was intensity and attitude. It is possible to get balance using players with technical quality. That is what makes the difference. I have a lot of experience in midfield, at Milan I had [Clarence] Seedorf and [Andrea] Pirlo who were both 'mediapuntas.' That is not the problem."
Another well-publicised issue at Madrid has been conceding from set-pieces, with the defending for Atletico's opener again leaving a lot to be desired. Ancelotti was again clear -- just as when Los Colchoneros scored a similar headed goal in August's Super Cup first leg -- that under-fire goalkeeper Iker Casillas was not to blame.
"When you concede a goal at the near post, the last person responsible is the keeper," Ancelotti said. "In yesterday's training session we did everything we could to work on covering near post. But we need to work more on it."
Many in the Bernabeu crowd did not share that analysis of the goal, with long serving club captain Casillas being whistled every time he touched the ball for a long spell in the first half. Ancelotti claimed not to have noticed.
"I did not hear anything from crowd," he said. "I was concentrating on the pitch and coaching the team."