Real Madrid’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed concerns about his team’s performance on Friday, attributing their struggles this season to a lack of intensity in defence and slow ball circulation. The comments come as Madrid currently sits second in La Liga with 18 points, trailing leaders Barcelona by three points.
Despite the arrival of star striker Kylian Mbappe over the summer, Madrid has yet to find their rhythm this season. Ancelotti’s side suffered their first defeat of the season on Wednesday, losing 1-0 to French club Lille in the Champions League.
“We are still not up to par, but we are not far away,” Ancelotti said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s encounter against Villarreal. He acknowledged that several players have not yet reached their peak performance, urging for patience as they work through these challenges. The Italian tactician also pinpointed areas needing improvement.
Following the defeat to Lille, Ancelotti remained optimistic, stating, “Sometimes a defeat brings you back to reality, and I liked the way the players have reacted.”
Addressing concerns regarding the team’s depth, Ancelotti remarked, “I don’t think there’s a lack of players to play with. We have a lot of variety, and even if we have not shown all the quality we have, there is nothing missing.”
Madrid will look to bounce back when they host third-placed Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. Villarreal has only lost once this La Liga season, suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat to Barcelona at home.