Carlo Ancelotti Urges Real Madrid to Bounce Back in LaLiga After Champions League Defeat
Carlo Ancelotti is calling for a strong response from his Real Madrid players as they prepare to return to LaLiga action this weekend, following a disappointing defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League. The match at the Bernabeu saw Madrid outplayed, with goals from Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata, and Tijjani Reijnders sealing a convincing win for the Serie A side.
This recent loss comes on the heels of a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Clasico, marking the first time Ancelotti has lost consecutive home games as head coach of Los Blancos. Currently, Real Madrid finds themselves nine points adrift of Hansi Flick’s team at the top of LaLiga, although they have a game in hand due to a postponed match against Valencia.
As they prepare to host Osasuna in the Spanish capital on Saturday, Ancelotti is eager for his team to regain their form and get their season back on track. “Osasuna are performing well, playing brave football and are well positioned in the table,” Ancelotti stated in a press conference. “We see tomorrow as a great opportunity to return to our best, especially during this challenging time.”
The Madrid coach emphasized that the team has analyzed their recent struggles and believes they have identified solutions that need to be tested in the upcoming match. “I see the team united, motivated, and aware. We must wait until tomorrow to see if we can execute our plan effectively,” he added.
Ancelotti heads into the match with a positive track record against Osasuna, remaining unbeaten in his eight LaLiga encounters with them (W5 D3). His only longer unbeaten streak in the competition is against Real Betis (W5 D4), as well as Elche, Granada, and Almeria.
Additionally, Ancelotti expressed optimism regarding Kylian Mbappe’s potential return to form, despite the striker’s struggles, having scored just once in his last six appearances across all competitions. Mbappe was also omitted from France’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel and Italy, but Ancelotti believes this weekend’s game offers a chance for the forward to silence critics.
“He’s training well and going through a tough moment, just like the rest of us,” Ancelotti remarked. “He needs to view this as an opportunity to overcome his challenges, which requires heightened concentration and attitude.”
“This is a strong, motivated group at the biggest club in the world. It’s the perfect environment to navigate through difficult times, and I am confident we will succeed,” he concluded.
As Real Madrid gears up for this
