In the early hours of August 30th, Real Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw by Las Palmas in the third round of La Liga, meaning they started the season already 4 points behind Barcelona, a poor start.
After the game, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said in an interview, “I didn’t see a lack of spirit or attitude. It’s just that sometimes we can’t find the best way to play.” He continued, “I need clearer tactics to give players clear instructions. When problems arise, the coach should take responsibility for finding solutions. I will do so.” He conducted a harsh analysis of the team’s performance and summarized, “This match was very similar to the one against Mallorca, and I didn’t see any improvement.”
When asked about the situation during the break and whether he felt angry, Ancelotti replied, “No, no. The first half was not good… This is obvious. We are having a hard time scoring goals, and because we don’t have good balance, there’s neither easy defense nor quick passing… We are struggling.”
Regarding the current situation, Ancelotti stated, “Obviously, it’s difficult for us to find the stability of last season. But we shouldn’t make excuses. The schedule is tight, and we need to recover quickly because there’s another game on Sunday. I need clearer tactics to give players clear instructions. It’s more difficult than we imagined… We need to work hard and focus on our job.”
When asked whether the players should be blamed, Ancelotti responded, “I found tactical issues in football. The game’s tempo is slow, with not much running, and when the opponent has already blocked the defense, the forwards receive the ball. Without the ball, we leave gaps between the lines, making it hard for us to stay compact. The diagnosis is clear. Now, we need to find solutions.”
Regarding solutions, he stated, “I need to find solutions, not the players. When problems arise, the coach should take responsibility for finding solutions. I will do so. To get the team playing well again and regain stability.”
When asked if the lineup was settled, Ancelotti confirmed, “It’s settled.”
Regarding pressing in midfield, he said, “The midfield is not compact. The distance between the lines is too large, too far apart. We did well with high pressing, forcing the opponents to long balls; but we need to improve in midfield.”
Finally, when asked if the team was mentally fatigued, Ancelotti responded, “I don’t think it’s a mental issue, as the team trains well. It’s just that sometimes we can’t find the best way to play… This is something that happens sometimes. I didn’t see a lack of spirit or attitude. Things aren’t going according to plan, and we need to resolve them as soon as possible.”
