Carlo Ancelotti said Real Madrid's biggest problem is playing too individually in attack after his side lost 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Athletic centre-forward Aritz Aduriz scored the only goal at San Mames, and Madrid never really looked like equalising with their big name attackers Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo -- the "BBC" -- making little impression on a well organised home defence.
The result means Madrid have just scored one goal and taken just one point from their last two La Liga games, and will be replaced as leaders by Barcelona if the Catalans beat Rayo Vallecano at home at Sunday lunchtime.
The Blancos coach told his post-match news conference that his team had "gifted" the three points to Athletic, with the issue having been bad play in attack, not a poor attitude.
"We gifted them the whole game," Ancelotti said. "In the first half they scored, and in the second we were not able to. It is not a problem of attitude, it is a tactical problem, in our attacking play.
"The game was very even. Athletic defended well and were compact, and they scored.
"Our problem is not in defence, but in attack. We did not find solutions. In two games we have scored one goal and it was a penalty. That is what we must fix. We lack efficiency in front of goal."
Madrid's big name attackers only really dangerous attempt at goal was a mis-hit Bale cross which hit the woodwork late on, but the Italian coach said it was his team as a whole, not his BBC attackers as individuals, which had been to blame.
"The [BBC] did not play a good game, but it is not a mistake from those three," Ancelotti said. "We are all responsible in attack, of doing our own work.
"We played too much as individuals, looking to resolve things alone, when you need to play more quickly, and with less touches.
"What we are doing is confusing. We play slowly and without moving the ball well, so the forwards do not have spaces. It is a problem of the time between the pass and the run."
The defeat means it is likely that Madrid will travel to the Camp Nou in two weeks time in second place in the table, needing a win to again change the momentum in the title race. Ancelotti took responsibility for his side's recent poor results, while saying he would turn things around.
"My responsibility is big," he said. "This is my team, despite what people say. The team is playing badly, and La Liga has got difficult, but this is not over. We will try and fix this quickly."
Ancelotti explained his substitutions, including removing midfielders Toni Kroos and Asier Illarramendi and sending on young attacker Jese Rodriguez.
"I wanted to freshen up the team with Jese and to play more on the wings," he said. "I took off Kroos as he had a yellow card. The same with Illarramendi."