Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has a clear message for those criticizing his team’s style of play: winning matters more than playing well. Despite facing criticism for their less-than-ideal performance, Ancelotti remains steadfast in his approach, emphasizing the need to prioritize victories, especially with several key players sidelined due to injuries.
‘Real Madrid fans prefer winning over playing well,’ Ancelotti stated ahead of their La Liga clash against Espanyol. ‘Ideally you want both, winning while playing an attractive style of football, but our main objective is pleasing our fans who are very demanding, so we will keep our focus on winning as we know that our squad is still far away from ideal form.’
Ancelotti acknowledges the team’s current struggles, but remains optimistic about their progress. ‘We are not at our best and that is normal in the beginning of a demanding calendar. We will improve as the season starts to get into the important things to play for. For the moment we are in, we are doing well,’ he said at a press conference.
The team has already faced challenges this season, with midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni only recently returning from injury. While their 3-1 home win against Stuttgart marked a strong start to their Champions League title defense, several other players, including David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, and Brahim Diaz, are still weeks away from full recovery.
Despite concerns about the form of forwards Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, Ancelotti remains confident in their abilities. He believes they are improving each week and will eventually provide the spark Real Madrid needs to be effective with their direct approach. ‘We try to make the Madrid fans happy,’ Ancelotti said. ‘And our game is about intensity, pace … Without wasting too much time in reaching the opponent’s goal.’
Ancelotti defends their style of play, describing it as ‘rock and roll football,’ emphasizing the team’s strength, speed, and ability to take advantage of their players’ unique characteristics. ‘For me, I believe that beautiful football depends on the characteristics of the players I have,’ Ancelotti said. ‘Attacking well, defending well … playing well on the counter. There are many facets and everyone has their own opinion…’
While Barcelona currently leads the La Liga standings with 15 points, Real Madrid remains close behind, tied with Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, just four points off the top spot. The team’s focus on winning, regardless of style, suggests a determination to challenge for the title even as they work to improve their overall performance.
