Jose Mourinho conceded Real Madrid's form was "worrisome" but insisted last night's goalless draw at Racing Santander offered more encouragement than the weekend loss at Levante.
Madrid have scored just once in their last three games, including the stalemate with Racing at El Sardinero, and appear to have lost the attacking verve with which they started the season.
Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil, both restored to the starting line-up last night, were below-par while striker Karim Benzema was subdued.
But while Mourinho conceded his team were currently struggling for inspiration, he still saw some positives from a low-key encounter.
"It's less worrisome to draw a match in which you're the only side that tries to play and win," he said.
"We've dropped five points in two away games and that is worrisome. We've scored one goal in our last three games and we must return to normality by scoring and winning on Saturday."
Madrid enjoyed long spells of possession against a Racing side set up to defend but could not find a breakthrough.
"We had complete control over the game, especially in the first half. We played in our opponent's half of the pitch after half-time and we didn't have that many chances on goal," Mourinho added.
"This is due to Racing, who defended fiercely and played their game well looking to take one point.
"As a team we didn't do our best and some of our players performed under par, but we tried to win and ended the game the way we played it: with two defenders, with someone playing in the middle and with two forwards."
Mourinho was critical of what he believed were time-wasting tactics from the home side.
"The pace was broken by simulation, by injuries, by the stretcher coming onto the pitch... We're responsible for this because we failed to put a stop to it," he said.
"Our concentration was better tonight than it was on Sunday and I have a different overall feeling about the game.
"We dropped four points away from home last season in our first few games."
Madrid have scored just once in their last three games, including the stalemate with Racing at El Sardinero, and appear to have lost the attacking verve with which they started the season.
Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil, both restored to the starting line-up last night, were below-par while striker Karim Benzema was subdued.
But while Mourinho conceded his team were currently struggling for inspiration, he still saw some positives from a low-key encounter.
"It's less worrisome to draw a match in which you're the only side that tries to play and win," he said.
"We've dropped five points in two away games and that is worrisome. We've scored one goal in our last three games and we must return to normality by scoring and winning on Saturday."
Madrid enjoyed long spells of possession against a Racing side set up to defend but could not find a breakthrough.
"We had complete control over the game, especially in the first half. We played in our opponent's half of the pitch after half-time and we didn't have that many chances on goal," Mourinho added.
"This is due to Racing, who defended fiercely and played their game well looking to take one point.
"As a team we didn't do our best and some of our players performed under par, but we tried to win and ended the game the way we played it: with two defenders, with someone playing in the middle and with two forwards."
Mourinho was critical of what he believed were time-wasting tactics from the home side.
"The pace was broken by simulation, by injuries, by the stretcher coming onto the pitch... We're responsible for this because we failed to put a stop to it," he said.
"Our concentration was better tonight than it was on Sunday and I have a different overall feeling about the game.
"We dropped four points away from home last season in our first few games."
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