Real Madrid News
Ancelotti confident Real Madrid will bounce back after Sociedad loss: “We’ll see a different team”
Real Madrid’s 2-0 defeat against Real Sociedad appears to have sealed the La Liga title race in Spain. Barcelona are now just one win away from taking home the trophy and it is safe to say that Los Blancos’ run in the competition has been dismal.
The Merengues did not look remotely close to defending champions on the night. Takefusa Kubo opened the scoring by capitalising on an Eder Militao error and Dani Carvajal’s red card at the hour mark only helped the hosts’ case. In the end, Ander Barrenetxea sealed the game for La Real with a second goal.
Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media after his team’s defeat on the night and addressed several topics of concern that headlined the result. Here are the snippets from his press conference.
Reflecting on his team’s defeat to the Basque side, the Real Madrid manager revealed that he was happy with how the first half unfolded and explained how it all fell apart.
“The first half was good, but then we handed them the first goal and from then on it became more difficult. The low block worked, but in the second half we got off to a poor start, by giving away the first goal,” he said.
Despite facing two losses in their last three games, Ancelotti was confident of his men bringing out their best version in the crucial fixtures to come. He also added a note on the mentality in the dressing room, saying:
“I’m confident we’ll see a different team in the next two games, with the utmost focus and motivation. A squad that is practically 100 per cent ready to win the Copa del Rey and fight to reach the Champions League final. Of course, motivation is not like a light, but this team is quite special in this regard.”
Real Madrid have been without some of their best players in recent games including Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde, and Luka Modric. To rub salt in the wound, Marco Asensio was taken off injured on the night but Ancelotti was confident that most players would be available at the weekend, as he said:
“There were some knocks, because it was an intense match with a lot of heavy tackles. Nothing special. We’ll have most of the players back for Saturday’s game. Mendy won’t be playing, but the rest, more or less, will all recover. Valverde, Benzema and all those who were at home today will be available.”
The Italian tactician went on to highlight how it was far from ideal to enter the Copa del Rey final on the back of a defeat but ironically called the upcoming clash one of the reasons for the collapse at Reale Arena.
“It’s not the best way to get ready for the match because a defeat always hurts, it worries you and hits the morale and the positive dynamic a bit,” he said.
“It’s not ideal for us in terms of preparation for what we have to come but it’s pretty clear that the players’ minds are thinking ahead to Saturday’s final and the semi-final as well. That impacts your concentration in games and when your focus is not there, you end up gifting goals.”
Providing an update on Luka Modric’s injury, Ancelotti had only positive news and even gave an update on his participation against Osasuna, saying:
“He trained today, he’s feeling good, we’ll reassess him in the coming days. We won’t take any risks but he is recovering really well and I think he has a chance of playing.”
Finally, Ancelotti gave his two cents on his general feelings towards his team’s up-and-down form in recent weeks, saying,
“In recent times, we’ve lost a bit of consistency in La Liga and our levels have really dropped. Fortunately, we’re still in two competitions and let’s hope they help us to fix the end of our season.”
Source: Real Madrid website
Real Madrid have officially announced the first departure of the 2022/23 season as Marco Asensio leaves the club on a free transfer. The Spaniard was part of the Madrid setup for eight years, and leaves with three Champions Leagues and La Ligas to his name.
With Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Eden Hazard in the team, Asensio was the only winger in the team who preferred to play on the right rather than on the left. His left-footedness was also crucial for this.
Madrid will now have to assess the market for replacements, even though they will be handed one themselves in the summer in the form of Brahim Diaz. The Spaniard finishes his loan spell at AC Milan in the summer, and will return to Madrid.
Madrid will have to make a final call on his future, but as of now, are ready to discuss a new long-term deal for and with Diaz, as per a report published by Fabrizio Romano. The extension will be valid until 2027.
Diaz, now 23, initially joined Real Madrid from Manchester City in 2019, completing a €18 million move in the search of game-time. Six appearances in six months later, though, he moved to AC Milan on loan, and has been there since.
However, getting him to stay at Madrid will be difficult, as the player evidently wants to continue at Milan for the foreseeable future. He even suggested his desire to continue in a recent interview.
“I’m happy here at Milan. I feel very good at this club, then I don’t know what is going to happen. I kissed the badge because that’s what I felt at that moment,” he said.
They want him to replace Asensio at the Santiago Bernabeu, but will not force him to stay if he wants to leave.
