REAL MADRID
Ancelotti’s post-Girona message to Real Madrid players: “Cannot happen again”
Following Real Madrid’s 4-2 defeat to Girona this midweek, head coach Carlo Ancelotti was categorical in the message he got across to his players.
Real Madrid’s defeat to Girona stung Carlo Ancelotti. With 1,278 games under his belt as a coach, he has learned not to push the panic button after a loss - but the Italian gave his charges a stern talking-to post-match at Montilivi.
“What happened in Girona cannot happen again”
Ancelotti emphasized the importance of preserving Madrid’s fine recent form, which has seen Los Blancos thump Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals and breeze past Chelsea in the Champions League last eight. While his tone remained measured, he was categorical in his message to his players: “What happened against Girona cannot happen again.”
Ancelotti was not impressed by the team’s relaxed attitude in Catalonia, where striker Valentín ‘Taty’ Castellanos was allowed to score four goals as the hosts secured a 4-2 win.
The coach understands that the players have to contend with a packed schedule in April and May, and that this is particularly trying in LaLiga. With Barcelona 11 points clear at the top, the league has slipped down the list of priorities behind the Copa and the Champions League, competitions in which Madrid are one and three games, respectively, from trophy success.
Ancelotti is realistic; he accepts that it’s only natural for players to have one eye on the crunch match-ups ahead, with Osasuna awaiting in the cup final and a blockbuster semi-final against Manchester City up next in Europe. But what he cannot accept is a performance like Tuesday’s.
Different response to Villarreal defeat
Indeed, his reaction to the defeat at Montilivi has differed completely from his response to Madrid’s 3-2 home loss to Villarreal early this month. That evening, the Spanish and European champions were taken apart by Samu Chukwueze, but they competed. Their dozy display in Girona was another matter entirely.
Although he has kept his calm, Ancelotti publicly apologised to the fans post-match - “this isn’t what Madrid are about” - and is determined to prevent a drop-off in LaLiga standards.
Even if Los Merengues’ Spanish title hopes are as good as over, he is at pains to stress the overall benefits they’ll reap from remaining competitive in the league. Taking the foot of the gas in the domestic top flight would be a grave error, he feels - and could have a disastrous knock-on consequences for Madrid’s pursuit of the Copa del Rey and Champions League.