Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his disappointment after his team’s 1-1 draw against Mallorca in their La Liga season opener on Sunday. He cited a lack of focus and defensive balance as key issues, highlighting the need for improvement moving forward.
Ancelotti, visibly frustrated, addressed the press conference, stating, “Today I am not happy. I think we could have done much better.” He pointed to a lack of concentration after taking an early lead through Rodrygo in the 13th minute, ultimately allowing Mallorca to equalize with a Vedat Muriqi header in the second half. Ancelotti emphasized, “It’s not a fitness problem, it was mental. I don’t want to make excuses for anything. We had to do better and show more attitude. We can learn a lot from this match.”
Ancelotti’s criticism was particularly directed towards his team’s defending. With a forward line featuring the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham, the manager highlighted the need for a more disciplined defensive approach to match their attacking prowess. He asserted, “We started the game well, we took the lead and we had chances to score the second, but in the second half we lacked balance. It was a game we could have lost because we didn’t have balance. It wasn’t a good game.”
He continued, “We are a very attacking team and defensive balance is a fundamental part of the way we are built. We struggled to steal the ball, to press after losing the ball. When we talk about defending, we are talking above all about collective commitment. The balance is found with the players thinking about the same thing. When we have to win the ball back we have to think about it all together. It’s a problem for everyone, not the strikers, the midfielders or the defenders. It is a problem of a team that did not understand that this was a key aspect of the match.”
Ancelotti’s words serve as a clear warning to his players, emphasizing the importance of defensive discipline and collective commitment to achieve success in the upcoming La Liga season. While Real Madrid boasts a formidable attacking force, the manager stressed the necessity of finding a balance between attack and defense to avoid costly mistakes and secure desired results.
