Real Madrid experienced another frustrating evening this season. Playing away at San Mamés Stadium against Athletic Bilbao, Carlo Ancelotti’s men suffered a 2-1 defeat. After the match, the Madrid coach addressed the press.
This marks Real Madrid’s fifth defeat in just four months of competition. After losses to Lille, Barcelona, AC Milan, and Liverpool, the Madrid side faltered once again. Despite an unconvincing win against Getafe on matchday 15, they were expected to deliver a strong performance against Athletic Bilbao, led by the brilliant Nico Williams and regarded as one of the best teams in Spain. However, in this early match of the 19th round, Madrid disappointed. Without Vinícius Junior, the team severely lacked offensive efficiency.
Carlo Ancelotti remarked that a draw would have been a fairer result, but…
Despite the impressive efforts of Jude Bellingham, who was omnipresent in trying to cover the many weaknesses of the team, neither Federico Valverde nor Kylian Mbappé managed to shine against the Basque side. After 90 minutes, Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat, allowing FC Barcelona to widen the gap at the top of the table. Amid growing frustration among Madrid’s supporters, Carlo Ancelotti spoke to Madrid’s television network to share his initial thoughts. True to form, the 65-year-old coach sought to defend his players.
According to the Merengues’ coach, the defeat was undeserved. “I think the match was balanced. Athletic Club, when playing at home, is always a formidable opponent. But given what both teams showed, a draw would have been a fairer result. We were better in the second half than in the first. We could have hoped for a better outcome, but now we have to keep fighting and focus on Saturday’s match,” said Carlo Ancelotti.
Furthermore, Carlo Ancelotti chose not to criticize Kylian Mbappé for missing his second penalty in two weeks. “I haven’t spoken to him. You can’t judge a match based on a missed penalty. Sometimes you score, sometimes you don’t. He’s upset, but this can happen,” he said with his usual diplomacy.
During his interview on Real Madrid TV, Ancelotti also dismissed the idea of a change in the penalty-taking hierarchy. “A change of penalty takers? No, there are three: Bellingham, Vinícius, and Mbappé.” This stance suggests that he continues to trust his trio despite the growing criticism.
As the mounting defeats jeopardize the club’s ambitions this season, the Italian coach acknowledges that adjustments are needed. However, he was quick to emphasize the challenges faced in recent matches: “Five defeats? We know we need to improve. We are not as solid as last season. But the key is to keep working. We have played in tough stadiums.” A statement that has frustrated supporters, especially as he failed to mention the losses at the Santiago Bernabéu against Barça and AC Milan.
The upcoming match against Girona, scheduled for next Saturday, promises to be crucial. Girona, far from being a team to underestimate, represents a real test for a Madrid side desperately looking to bounce back. Another poor performance could further intensify doubts about the technical staff’s ability to reverse this negative spiral and get the team back on track for the rest of the season.
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