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Ancelotti keeps his cards close to his chest after Barca defeat

During a press conference after the heavy 5-2 defeat against FC Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti displayed a particularly dry attitude. As his team prepares for a Copa del Rey round of 32 clash against Celta Vigo this Thursday at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ancelotti remained evasive, avoiding questions about the painful defeat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Expressing an urgent need to recover from their recent humiliation, Ancelotti said: “We have found the solution after what was a very painful loss. However, I am not here to debate our performance with the press; that is reserved for my technical staff and my players.” His unusual lack of verbosity contrasted sharply with his usual lightness when interacting with journalists.


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When the question about possible signings for the January transfer window was raised, Ancelotti’s response was brusque, a reflection of his current frustration. He also responded casually to questions about his players’ determination and attitude in the match against their rivals, repeating: “It’s a press conference, not a debate.”

Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of the upcoming match against Celta, saying: “It is essential for us to bounce back; this defeat was certainly a low point, but it did not derail our global campaign We intend to respond vigorously on the ground, and I am confident that we will.”

The defeat against Barcelona marked the second stinging setback this season, following a 4-0 rout in La Liga last October. Despite an exceptional 2023-24 season where the club won the Champions League and La Liga, Real Madrid is struggling to maintain this dynamic. Currently, they sit in second place in La Liga with 43 points, just one point behind Atlético Madrid, and occupy a worrying position in 20th place in the Champions League, accumulating just nine points from six matches.


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Asked about the growing criticism surrounding his management, Ancelotti calmly said: “I choose not to let the noise influence me. As a coach, I know the balance needed to navigate these highs and lows. One day you’re called a genius, the next day you’re the scapegoat. I’m not the best or the worst, but I have the experience to make sure I don’t lose my balance.

Regarding the last match, he acknowledged that it was a setback, but stressed the importance of looking ahead: “There is still a lot to play this season, and we are well placed to compete in all tournaments “We have analyzed our previous mistakes, identified the necessary adjustments, and now we must focus on what lies ahead.”

Concluding his thoughts, Ancelotti noted: “The beauty of football is that after a disappointing result, there is always a chance to right the mistakes almost immediately. Tomorrow gives us that opportunity, and it is time to redirect our attention to what we need to do to get back into shape.”

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