"Real Madrid are not pressuring referees, we only want to change a broken system"

Liga leaders Real Madrid face Atletico Madrid on Saturday with one point separating them at the top of the Spanish flight. However, instead of talking about the derby's significance in the title race, the preview has been obscured by discussions on the controversy over the refereeing in last week's 1-0 loss to Espanyol and the subsequent complaint submitted by Real Madrid

'Los Blancos' were left furious after Romero was only booked for a cynical foul on Mbappe before going on to net the winner. Carlo Ancelotti expressed his frustration post-match, however, things were taken to the next level when Real Madrid filed a formal complaint asking the Spanish Football Federation for an "immediate submission of VAR audio" over two officiating decisions in the contest. La Liga president Javier Tebas addressed the situation by saying that the club "have lost their minds", prompting reporters to ask the Italian manager for a response.

"Before such an important match, I wouldn't like to touch on this subject," said Ancelotti during a press conference on Saturday. "Tebas can rest easy because nobody has lost their mind here. We are not pressuring the referees, we are only trying to improve a system that, from what I hear, nobody is happy with. The others are not happy because they think it is a system that favours Real Madrid, but when Madrid wants to change the system, the others want to reject it."

'A match to get the three points'

Ancelotti then went on to address questions on the upcoming derby as he said: "It will be a very important match for both teams, who are fighting to win the competition. The derby is always a special match, as always. We are playing against a very strong rival who is doing very well. It will be a competitive, even, and hard-fought game. We need the three points because they are important in La Liga. We haven't played our best against strong opponents, but tomorrow is a match to get the three points."

 

February 7, 2025

"It’s a difficult game, but these are the games we like to be in. There’s a lot of pressure, but it’s a game that everyone will watch. It will be very competitive and a football spectacle in which we are the protagonists. We have to suffer and fight with the team. These are the games that we have to celebrate or suffer a little when they end," he added.

Real Madrid are back to action just two days after their win over Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. "Those who played the cup match did some recovery work yesterday with a bit of gym and swimming," Ancelotti said on the preparations for the derby. "Those who didn’t play did some intensity work. Today we did some tactics. Tomorrow we will watch the videos, today we watched the videos about the rival and tomorrow I will propose the strategy to the players. Tonight we will put on the television to relax."

The Italy international concluded the press conference as he spared a few words on Kylian Mbappe on Rodrygo Goes. On the French superstar, Ancelotti said: "He (Mbappe) has arrived in very good shape and humble. He has never asked where to play or when to take a penalty or a free kick. He has needed time to adapt to the team and his characteristics. However, the data is there because he has scored 22 goals. He is doing very well, as everyone expected."

Meanwhile, speaking on the Brazilian forward he added: "Rodrygo has played an important role in the 60 goals and the team. He is a player with a lot of quality, like the others. To find balance, I don't have to take off one, two, three, or four forwards. I can find more balance by taking off the four and putting in four other midfielders. They would press harder, but they wouldn't be able to score 60 goals."

 

February 7, 2025