Carlo Ancelotti, the seasoned Real Madrid manager, has defended his tactical approach following his team’s 0-4 defeat to Barcelona. Despite the loss, the Italian tactician expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance in the first half, insisting that they had outplayed their rivals.
“I have been in football for 48 years, so I’m not wrong when I tell you that the first half was good,” Ancelotti stated. “We controlled the game, created chances, and dominated possession. It was a different story in the second half, but we can’t ignore the quality of Barcelona and the impact of their substitutions.”
Ancelotti drew a stark contrast between the performance against Barcelona and the disappointing loss to Lille earlier in the season. “It’s different from the loss versus Lille. We were very bad that day. We competed today,” he asserted. “While the result is not what we wanted, I’m proud of my players’ effort and commitment.”
The defeat to Barcelona has reignited the debate about Real Madrid’s midfield options and the team’s overall tactical approach. Some critics have suggested that the team lacks creativity and intensity, particularly in the absence of key players like Luka Modric. However, Ancelotti remains confident in his squad and believes that they will bounce back from this setback.
“We need to learn from this defeat and improve,” Ancelotti concluded. “We have a strong squad, and we will continue to work hard to achieve our goals. The season is long, and there are many games to play. We will bounce back.”
