Citing anonymous sources, Spanish newspaper MARCA reported that the words "we have hit rock bottom" were heard coming from the Real Madrid locker room following Wednesday's surprise 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League.

Los Blancos are reeling after seeing their 36-game unbeaten streak ended following a rough 1-1 draw in the derby against crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid at the weekend.

Though head coach Carlo Ancelotti didn't want to accept that as an excuse for coming up short on French soil, it is perhaps the emotional and physical wear and tear of battling Diego Simeone's men - plus Atleti fans that threw missiles onto the pitch causing play to be temporarily halted - that had an influence on such a limp performance at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

"Oh, no," Ancelotti said post-match when throwing this suggestion out. "We played worse than the opponent. Football is not always fair, and sometimes you have to realise that if they play better than you, you don't win."

"It was difficult for us to get into the game. We only had chances at the end and with crosses. The team wasn't good. It's nothing, [we need to] learn from defeat and improve. Sometimes losing is helpful.

"It's a very long season, and we have to improve. It seemed like we were doing it, but today we went back a bit," the Italian also confessed, calling the defeat "a wake up call" while stressing that self-criticism is "good for improvement".

MARCA instead branded the display Madrid's worst in three years, and highlighted the difference in Lille's collective 117.9 kilometers ran compared to the defending champions' 107.1 kilometers.

The paper further adds that there are concerns not just about the quantity of those numbers, however, but also their quality.

There's a general consensus that the team lacks intensity which Ancelotti accepted, but figures such as club legend Predrag Mijatovic blasted creative shortcomings in a midfield which he believes boasts "too much muscle" and "toughness with the ball".

With games coming thick and fast and an international break soon upon us, Madrid has to react immediately with one eye on El Clasico against title rivals and arch nemesis FC Barcelona towards the end of the month.