Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t in the best of moods after his side’s humbling 5-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday and it reflected on his answers in the press conference before the Los Blancos’ Copa del Rey last-16 clash at home to Celta Vigo on Thursday.
“Let’s make one thing clear: this is a press conference, not a debate. I debate with my coaching staff and my players. Opening a debate here does not seem to me to be the most appropriate place,” the Italian said in a response to a question about his players’ attitude and their commitment in the humbling defeat by Barca.
“(Playing at home against Celta) is an important opportunity to come back from the bad game we played, which hurt us a lot but didn’t sink us. We want to react and I hope it goes well, that the reaction is strong after the bad game the other day,” he added.
After a successful 2023-24 season which saw Real win the Champions League as well as the La Liga, their form hasn’t been great this season. They have already lost to Barcelona twice, once in the league in October and once in the aforementioned cup final and are 20th in the newly revamped Champions League with just 9 points from 6 matches. They are second in LaLiga on 43 points, one point behind Atletico Madrid and five ahead of third-placed Barcelona.
“I don’t follow the wave of criticism, that one day you’re the best in the world and another day you’re the dumbest. I have the necessary balance, which experience has given me, to know who I am and not get carried away by the wave. I don’t think I’m the best, but I don’t think I’m the dumbest either,” Ancelotti said if he is under any pressure from criticism.
“(Sunday’s defeat) is a step backwards, but we have to move forward. There is a season left in which we are well positioned in all competitions. It was a bad game, we made a lot of mistakes. We have evaluated it and found the solution. We have to move on. The good thing about football is that after a bad game, after a defeat like that, there is a chance to do well, which is tomorrow, and it gives you the opportunity to focus a lot on what you have to do and not on the bad things you have done,” he added.
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