Real Madrid Coach Ancelotti Admits ‘We Are Worried’ After AC Milan Defeat
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said "we have to be worried" after his team fell to its second consecutive defeat at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
While Los Blancos were thrashed 4-0 by FC Barcelona in their last La Liga outing, AC Milan beat them 3-1 at the same ground in the Champions League to leave the holders of the competition in 17th place out of 36 teams.
With Fede Valverde's partner attacking Ancelotti and the team's forwards on social media during the match, unrest is growing in the Spanish capital.
The Italian admitted that "we have to be" worried when asked if he was by local broadcaster Movistar in the mixed zone post match.
"Because in the last few games the team has not been in good shape. We lack solidity. It's time to work," he added.
Reminded that his men have conceded nine goals in their last three games, Ancelotti said that this is because "we don't defend well".
"The team is not compact. We have to be more compact, more orderly. Yes, we're conceding a lot, very much," he confessed.
As for Valverde, Ancelotti said that he "was not 100% and "had discomfort in his back".
"Yesterday he trained well, but he felt that pain in the first half and we decided to substitute him," the Italian further explained.
Ancelotti was then asked about whistles aimed at Aurelien Tchouameni when it was revealed that the midfielder had been substituted at half time, and whether this could affect his morale.
"Emotionally, no," Ancelotti insisted. "What we have is not an individual problem, but a collective one. Now it's time to get up, fight and win the next game.".
Reminded that difficult teams such as Premier League leaders Liverpool and Europa League holders Atalanta are on the horizon, Ancelotti insisted: "We have to focus on today. We are a team that is not showing its best version and we have to find it to fight for all competitions."
On Saturday, Madrid receives a high-flying, fifth-placed Osasuna in La Liga which has thus far administered leader FC Barcelona its only defeat in the Spanish top flight so far.
Because of its win in El Clasico and Madrid's match with Valencia being postponed last weekend because of tragic flooding in the latter's region, Barca currently leads its bitter rival by nine points at the summit.
