Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of Real Madrid, expressed his belief that the level of criticism facing the club is harsher compared to other teams. This comment came following a convincing 4-1 victory over Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, which helped the team return to the top of the La Liga standings.
The Italian coach has faced mounting scrutiny in the 2024/2025 season, especially after the 5-1 loss to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, which led to jeers from home fans. Despite the intense pressure, Ancelotti remained philosophical, acknowledging the nature of modern football.
“Football is like that now,” Ancelotti remarked with a touch of humor. “I will continue studying to see if I am wrong or not. The match was complete, with a lot of quality. We started badly, but we held up well. [Kylian] Mbappé helped us a lot.”
Ancelotti went on to reflect on the club’s performance, noting that Real Madrid has both good and difficult moments. “We are capable of having balance to have good moments and difficult moments. I think the criticism is harsher with Madrid than with other teams, yes,” he admitted. “There is criticism and there is criticism, the whistles are criticisms that hurt, it is the fans who are not happy, and that motivates us. It is a wake-up call. Celta [Vigo in the Copa del Rey] was a useful wake-up call for the team, and we have brought out a good version of ourselves.”
The coach also took the opportunity to praise Kylian Mbappé, who has been a standout performer for Madrid. Ancelotti lauded the French striker, calling him “the best centre-forward in the world.” He explained that there had been doubts about Mbappé’s positioning but emphasized his quality in the central role. “He is a great striker, he is very good in the central area – more than on the wing. His way of losing his marker is unique, and inside he can take advantage of it better,” Ancelotti added.
When asked about Madrid’s overall performance, Ancelotti was cautious not to claim that the team is superior to others. “Sometimes we play well and sometimes we don’t,” he said. “The team is hard-working, sometimes they play better and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they lack balance, sometimes commitment… No one is perfect. I don’t see any super-team playing fantastic. We try to play with the characteristics of our players.”
Ancelotti was also asked about his own resilience as a coach, particularly after a difficult week. He replied, “I have one life, and I’m enjoying it. I’m trying, as best as possible. Madrid helps me to enjoy myself a lot.” While he acknowledged that losing the Clasico made the past week challenging, he emphasized the importance of staying self-critical and positive during tough times. “When you lose the Clasico, it’s more difficult, of course, but in difficulty, the only way to get through it is to be self-critical and positive.”
With Real Madrid now back on top of La Liga, the team will shift its focus to defending its Champions League title, starting with a crucial home match against Salzburg on Wednesday.
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