CARLO ANCELOTTI HAS rubbished talk of a crisis at Real Madrid following back-to-back defeats for the European champions.
Real suffered a 2-1 league loss at Valencia on Sunday — halting their 22-match winning streak, two short of equalling a world record — before going down 2-0 to city rivals Atletico in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie last night.
Despite that breathtaking run prior to the turn of the year, some pundits have been quick to look for signs of panic amid their poor start to 2015, but Ancelotti scoffed at those suggestions.
“That’s a bit much [to say the club is in crisis],” he is quoted as saying by SportYou. ”We are not happy with these two games. We have to pick up a win again soon.
“We’ve got Espanyol on Saturday and then we play the second leg [against Atleti].
We have a chance, but not much. Atletico have the advantage and we have to give our all.”
Raul Garcia opened the scoring from the spot after being hauled down by Real captain Sergio Ramos in the box, before Jose Gimenez headed a second 14 minutes from time.
“We controlled the match until the penalty,” Real coach Ancelotti added. ”In the latter stages of the match we did not do well.
“In the first half, with more control, we needed more efficiency and depth. Furthermore, Atletico defend very well, always together.”
The return leg takes place next Thursday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Any journalists that come to the conclusion that Real are in crisis, must not have a clue. Ancellotti is one of the best managers out there.
That’s the Spanish media for you – sure Barca are just off the pace and Luis Enrique probably won’t see out the season. Anyway they’ll pick it up again. There’s an argument for Ancellotti being the worlds best. His record domestically and in Europe is incredible. And he does it with the minimum of fuss. Class act.,
Losing two games after winning twenty-two in a row a ‘crisis’? Christ, what word would they use to describe the situation at, I dunno, Blackpool?
So they lost to a team who are currently coming 4th in the table away and to a team who a few months ago reached the champions league final, but real are still top of la liga and have easily qualified for the next round of the champions league and some people think they are in a crisis?!?!? Didn’t think it was physically possible to be that dumb and naive.
And Ron can I just say that your hair looks magnificent today – great volume and shine. Although that musk ( sex Panther ) is little overpowering.
Thanks Rob, as the old expression goes ‘I like the way you’re put together’.