"I heard we play poorly, but we're leaders"

Carlo Ancelotti vindicated his status as a coach after crushing Las Palmas to put Real Madrid two points clear of Atletico Madrid and seven ahead of Barcelona, saying he is "confused" after hearing that his team play "very bad football".

"I am confused because I heard we played very poorly, yet here we are at the top of the league. I will continue to investigate where the criticisms are coming from. Today, we played a complete and rounded match, showcasing great quality and attitude. We started poorly, but I won't let that alter our rhythm,’ he said after being asked about the 'Merengues' reaction after losing the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona.

"I don't want to say that we are the ones who play the best. Sometimes we play well and sometimes less well, but we play very badly. .... I don't want to be told that the team isn't well worked. Sometimes we have balance or not, more or less commitment, but nobody is perfect. I don't see super teams playing fantastic football. We play taking into account the characteristics of the players we have", he added.

Ancelotti also reminded those who criticised him for using Mbappe as a centre-forward, after the Frenchman's great performance with a brace against Las Palmas and some brilliant offensive actions.

"Mbappe has been a huge help to us because he's in excellent form. The team's collective effort has been commendable. We have achieved a necessary balance to navigate both good and challenging times", he concluded.

 

January 19, 2025