In the first match of the new season, Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Mallorca. In the post-match press conference, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti appeared serious as he commented on his team’s performance: “We started well, but our overall performance in the game was poor. We need better defense and more balance. As we’ve said before, our attacking ability is strong, but balance is crucial.”
Regarding the timing of substitutions, he mentioned: “It might have been a bit late. Everyone has their own opinion, but I don’t want to comment on it.”
Speaking about dropping 2 points in the first game, Ancelotti said: “Last year, I was satisfied with some draws, but today I am not. We could have done better. I don’t want to make excuses; we just need to do better, more positively. There are lessons to be learned from these games. The problems are clear.”
Talking about Mbappe’s performance, he said: “He played better on the left in the second half, but we won’t adjust our tactics because of that. They sometimes switch positions; who plays on the wing depends on how they feel.”
Ancelotti also pointed out what he was most dissatisfied with: “Our defense wasn’t good enough; after losing the ball, we didn’t apply pressure promptly. We need to improve this aspect. We’re talking about attitude and team spirit.”
Regarding the reason for the drop in performance in the second half, he explained: “The team was too open. We need to focus more, as usual. This isn’t a physical or mental issue.”
Finally, about how to find balance, he summarized: “Players need to maintain a consistent mindset. When we regain possession, everyone needs to think together. You might think it’s a problem for the forwards, but it can also be the responsibility of the defenders or midfielders. It’s not an issue for one or two individuals, but the whole team, who did not understand the importance of balance in the game. Mallorca did better than us in defense. The draw was fair.”
