"Last year we also didn't run a lot and we won the Champions League" - Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti hits back at critics following AC Milan defeat
Carlo Ancelotti has defended Real Madrid's work rate after their UEFA Champions League defeat to AC Milan on Tuesday (November 5). Los Blancos suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss as they hosted the Italian giants at the Bernabeu. Malick
Thiaw opened the scoring for AC Milan in the 12th minute before Vinicius Junior equalized nine minutes later, converting a penalty.
Milan regained the lead via Alvaro Morata later in the first half and Real Madrid trailed 2-1 at the break. Madrid conceded their third goal of the night in the second period, with Tijjani Reijnders getting on the scoresheet.
Ancelotti's men endured their second loss of the ongoing Champions League campaign, the first being their 1-0 defeat to Lille last month. Los Blancos are 17th in the standings, having earned just six points from four games so far.
Speaking to reporters after the Milan loss, Ancelotti hit back at critics claiming that his team didn't run enough on the pitch. The Italian boss said (via Fabrizio Romano on X):
“We don't run enough? Last year, we also didn't run a lot and we won the Champions League."
Ancelotti also touched on his side's performance, ruing their defensive display. He insisted that attack was not the problem for Real Madrid, claiming that they had plenty of chances.
“We had many chances. We lacked accuracy, we could score more. But this is not the problem. We don’t defend well. We need to be more compact. We lack solidity."
Meanwhile, Real Madrid trail league leaders Barcelona by nine points in the LaLiga standings, having suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat in the El Clasico on October 27.
Carlo Ancelotti issues response after Real Madrid star's wife criticizes substitution in AC Milan loss
Carlo Ancelotti has explained why he substituted Federico Valverde against AC Milan as he issued a response to the midfielder's wife's criticism.
Valverde started the fixture and was deployed as a right winger before being replaced by Eduardo Camavinga at the break. Ancelotti's decision to play the Uruguayan, a midfielder on paper, in a different position was questioned by his wife Mina Bonino, who wrote on social media:
“Fede plays best as a pivot. When are they going to understand that he is not a winger?”
During his post-match press conference, Ancelotti was asked about her comments, to which the Real Madrid boss replied:
“It's difficult to give an opinion on what people write on social media…”
The Italian then revealed that Valverde was taken off as he was not entirely fit, not because of his display against Milan. Ancelotti added:
“I changed Valverde because he wasn't 100%, he had problems."