Ancelotti hails Real Madrid’s resilience after Villarreal win but delivers ultimatum on fixture congestion
After securing a hard-fought victory against Villarreal, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his admiration for his squad’s determination and resilience.
Despite having limited time to recover, the players gave everything on the pitch, which left the Italian coach both proud and satisfied.
Ancelotti highlighted the team’s commitment and character, acknowledging that while they cannot always perform at their highest level, their dedication remains unquestionable.
“This team has something special. Character, and commitment, but they can’t always do it. We have to thank these players for their tremendous effort,” he began saying.
Physical demands and scheduling issues
The Italian tactician was firm in his stance regarding the tight scheduling. He made it clear that this would be the last time Real Madrid play a match with less than 72 hours of rest between fixtures.
“Today is the last time we’ll play a game with less than 72 hours of rest. If it happens again, Real Madrid won’t be there,” he added.
The Real Madrid boss expressed immense pride in his team, especially considering the physical intensity of the match against Villarreal.
The opposition proved to be a challenging side, yet Los Blancos managed to maintain their composure and see the game through.
“I’m very proud of this team in a tricky match due to the strength of the opponent, and we held our own physically. The team was exhausted at the end, and it’s a victory that speaks volumes for this team.”
Ancelotti also took the opportunity to address ongoing concerns about fixture congestion.
He revealed that Real Madrid had requested La Liga to adjust their schedule on two separate occasions, but no changes were made.
“We’ve asked La Liga to change the schedule twice, and nothing has happened, but this is the last time it will happen. Since January 3, the players have been making an effort that is commendable.”
Attention turns to Atletico vs Barcelona
With the job done against Villarreal, Ancelotti shifted his focus to the highly anticipated clash between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona.
While he acknowledged the significance of Real Madrid’s own win, he admitted he was looking forward to watching the match purely as a football fan, anticipating an exciting battle between two of their biggest rivals.
“It was important to win today. I’m going to watch it because it will be an entertaining match for a fan. And tomorrow I’m going to be a football fan,” he noted.
Source: AS
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