Real Madrid will never play with under 72 hours rest again: Ancelotti
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday his team will not play another football game after fewer than 72 hours of rest.
Los Blancos beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night in the Champions League on penalties and then earned a 2-1 win at Villarreal on Saturday, with the game kicking off at 1630 GMT.
"I think today is the last time we will play a game before 72 hours (of rest)," Ancelotti told reporters.
"We will never play another game (without) 72 hours of rest.
"We asked La Liga twice to change the time of the game and they did not do anything, this is the last time."
World football governing body FIFA recommends at least 72 hours between matches in order to protect the health of the players.
French striker Kylian Mbappe struck twice for Madrid against Villarreal to take them top of La Liga ahead of Barcelona's game at Atletico on Sunday.
"I am very proud of this team," continued Ancelotti.
"It was a potential banana skin, above all for what has happened, the (few) hours of rest, and the strength of the opponent."
Ancelotti has regularly complained about the packed football calendar, with Madrid one of the clubs who will also be involved at the expanded Club World Cup this summer in the United States.
"Everyone saw the game against Atletico, 120 minutes, a very intense match, it's hard to play after two days... but we have to respect the club badge and fight until the end, and we did that today and we were able to win," Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the scheduling of the game was disrespectful to Madrid.
"We don't want to look for excuses, I'm happy to say we did not lose or draw because of the tiredness, but it's not normal playing (at this time) today," said Courtois.
"I know La Liga don't like to put (the three biggest teams) on the same day, but sometimes it's what you have to do... it was a lack of respect to the team and our players, because we could have left here with someone injured.
"Tomorrow is Atletico against Barca and that's not a problem, it could be a 'Super Sunday' with Madrid playing first."
rbs/mw
Topics
-
Real Madrid says it won't play again without 72 hours of rest between matches
Real Madrid won’t agree to play another game without 72 hours of rest between matches. The club made the announcement, which was confirmed by coach Carlo Ancelotti, after its 2-1 win at Villarreal ...Yahoo Sports - 8h -
Real Madrid won't play without 72 hours' rest
Real Madrid's official TV channel have confirmed the team will refuse to play in future if their players aren't given a minimum 72 hours' rest between matches.ESPN - 42m -
Ancelotti blasts schedule: 'TV rights come first'
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on Friday complained about calendar congestion, saying that his players will have only 72 hours of rest since their Champions League round-of-16 4-2 penalty ...ESPN - 1d -
“This is the last time” – Carlo Ancelotti threatens La Liga over Real Madrid rest issue
Real Madrid secured a very important victory on Saturday as they came from behind to defeat Villarreal 2-1 at La Ceramica. It is a result that sends them top of La Liga for the time being, although ...Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Ancelotti’s biggest dilemma vs Villarreal – Rest stars or risk Real Madrid’s La Liga hopes?
Real Madrid endured an incredibly intense and physically draining battle against Atletico Madrid in their recent fixture. The team spent 120 minutes giving everything they had, covering a ...Yahoo Sports - 21h -
Real Madrid boss Ancelotti provides Vinícius Jr. injury update
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has provided an update on the wellbeing of star winger Vinícius Jr.This comes after the Brazilian departed the club’s most recent outing prematurely.Real Madr...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Real Madrid talisman played through injury to lead UCL charge against Atletico
Real Madrid’s win over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League was one of the team’s most important results of the season, but it came at a serious price.Carlo Ancelotti’s men, after all, w...Yahoo Sports - 23h -
Mbappe double at Villarreal takes 'exhausted' Real Madrid top
Kylian Mbappe's brace helped Real Madrid climb top of La Liga with a 2-1 win at Villarreal on Saturday despite coach Carlo Ancelotti's complaints that his team was "exhausted".Villarreal coach ...Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Real Madrid squeeze past Atlético after VAR intervenes in penalty shootout
The thorn that Carlo Ancelotti said was wedged in Atlético Madrid’s side remains buried in their flesh, deeper and more painful than ever before, never to be removed. For a sixth time they faced ...The Guardian - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Dick Vitale gets emotional talking about cancer battle on Duke-Louisville broadcast
ESPN's Dick Vitale said Saturday's broadcast would be his last of this season. "Have faith and believe," he told cancer patients.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
ACC Tournament MVP Kon Knueppel proves Duke has firepower that goes well beyond Cooper Flagg
It wasn't a surprise that a Duke freshman was named the Most Valuable Player of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Saturday night. What may have been surprising is that he wasn't named ...Yahoo Sports - 23m -
Disappointed Marvin Vettori issues statement on UFC Fight Night 254 loss
Marvin Vettori's comeback did not go as planned at UFC Fight Night 254. After injuries sidelined him for the longest layoff of his career, former middleweight title challenger Vettori (19-8-1 MMA, ...Yahoo Sports - 28m -
High school basketball: CIF state championship scores
CIF state championship boys' and girls' basketball championship scores.Yahoo Sports - 32m -
Chawinga and Current dominate early in 3-1 win over Thorns
Reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga scored on her first shot of the new National Women’s Soccer League season and the Kansas City Current defeated the Portland Thorns 3-1 on Saturday. The other three NWSL ...Yahoo Sports - 32m
More in Sports
-
Dick Vitale gets emotional talking about cancer battle on Duke-Louisville broadcast
ESPN's Dick Vitale said Saturday's broadcast would be his last of this season. "Have faith and believe," he told cancer patients.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
ACC Tournament MVP Kon Knueppel proves Duke has firepower that goes well beyond Cooper Flagg
It wasn't a surprise that a Duke freshman was named the Most Valuable Player of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Saturday night. What may have been surprising is that he wasn't named ...Yahoo Sports - 23m -
Knicks' frustration boils over as Tom Thibodeau and Josh Hart get into heated exchange during loss to Warriors
New York has lost four of six and has the third-worst offense since the All-Star breakCBS Sports - 25m -
2025 March Madness: Conference tournament scores, automatic bids, tickets punched to Big Dance, brackets
With Selection Sunday here, check out the the teams who have earned AQ bids to the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 26m -
Disappointed Marvin Vettori issues statement on UFC Fight Night 254 loss
Marvin Vettori's comeback did not go as planned at UFC Fight Night 254. After injuries sidelined him for the longest layoff of his career, former middleweight title challenger Vettori (19-8-1 MMA, ...Yahoo Sports - 28m