“I am used to it” - Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti hits back at critics following UCL defeat against Lille
Real Madrid find themselves in a spot of bother after suffering their first defeat of the season to Lille in the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti has faced backlash for failing to strike the right balance in his team, but the Los Blancos manager has brushed off the concerns, stating that his focus is on the future.
While Real Madrid have started the season well in terms of results, currently just three points behind Barcelona in LaLiga, their performances have been under scrutiny. They are yet to hit their top form, with Ancelotti struggling to achieve the right combintion in attack.
The arrival of Kylian Mbappe was expected to be a major boost, and although he has already scored seven goals, it’s fair to say that the Frenchman hasn’t been at his best. Their recent 0-1 loss to Lille highlighted their issues, as Real Madrid struggled to create chances consistently and were vulnerable at the back.
Ancelotti, who has been criticized for not finding solutions, has dismissed the pressure. He emphasized that his focus is fully on getting his team to play their best football, something they have struggled to do consistently this season.
“Criticism? I am used to it. Nothing new. I am not worried about anything but playing better," he stated (via theMadridZone on X.
Ancelotti’s side will now face Villarreal in LaLiga on Saturday, October 5, aiming to close the gap on Barcelona. The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham, who struggled against Lille, will need to step up and deliver a statement performance to silence their critics.
Carlo Ancelotti explains the reason behind Real Madrid’s struggles against Lille
Real Madrid’s schedule has certainly been demanding, with matches nearly every three days. Following their failure to win against Lille, Carlo Ancelotti was, however, not in the mood to offer excuses about the congested fixtures, stating simply that they didn’t deserve to win.
"That’s no excuse. We’ve played many times Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday and we’ve struggled. It wasn’t a good night. No excuses, we have to improve and that’s all," he said.
Reflecting on areas for improvement after going winless in their last two games, the Italian manager suggested that the team’s dynamics need to be strengthened.
"Just talking about it is not enough to fix it. There’s a dynamic that needs to be improved. It’s not enough to talk about it. The team was improving and this match is a setback. We have to keep fighting, battling and improving, he added (via Real Madrid website)
After the match against Villarreal, the Los Blancos will face Celta Vigo following the international break on October 19. It will be followed by two major fixtures - first against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on October 22, and then a showdown with their arch rivals Barcelona in LaLiga on October 26.