Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti is worried with the team’s performance in the 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the El Classico at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The hosts faltered in the second half after a strong showing in the first half to suffer their heaviest defeat this season, which also ended their unbeaten in the league.
Barcelona scored four second half goals to breeze past Real Madrid thanks to a quick-fire brace from Robert Lewandoski, a curler from Lamine Yamal, and a superb lob from Raphinha.
Real Madrid’s famed forward line struggled to get going with Mbappe particularly enduring a frustrating night, missing host of chances, and also having his goal ruled out for offside.
And the hosts switched off defensively to allow Barcelona to punish them with a blistering attacking show.
Ancelotti has revealed that he is worried about the performance, while admitting that Barcelona were the better side in the encounter.
He said: “I’m worried about the defeat, but we have to get up quickly. We’ve done well, except for the mistakes in the last part. And we have to keep competing and fighting. We’re going to compete like we did last season. We’re not going to be far from last season.
“It was a very even match, even in the first half. We played an intense first half. We lacked a bit of accuracy. We could have taken the lead and they scored two goals, which took the energy out of us. That’s when another match started. They had space, we risked at the back and they created a lot of chances for us. I liked the first half. We’re hurt, it’s a tough moment, but I want to thank the fans for their support.
“We don’t have to throw everything away, because there’s nothing to throw away. We have to forget the last 30 minutes. The season is very long, we don’t have to give up. We have to learn. We learned very well from the last defeat and I think the same will happen.
“We have to come back. The season is long. We don’t have to throw everything away. The team can do better and we will.”
The Italian manager also believed that Mbappe should have done better with his finishing in the game.
Ancelotti said: “We knew they used the high line and we almost missed it. He had chances and sometimes he was offside. But he had three or four chances where he needed more accuracy.”
Similarly, Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick was delighted with the team’s performance after scoring eight goals in two matches against Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid to further extend their impressive start to the season.
He said: “I’m delighted to be working at Barcelona and to live in Barcelona. It’s a fantastic job, I’m very happy. We have played a fantastic game and I am so proud.
“We started the journey, and we’re doing really well, we will keep going with our ideas, we have a flow at the moment, and we have to keep going.
“We can celebrate this win—I’ve given the players two days off. It’s a good day to celebrate, but also to stay focused on the upcoming matches.
“We pressed better with and without the ball. We had more possession and that’s why the game changed.
“The defensive effort was key. We have trained a lot how to defend with a high line and on how we want to press on the ball. It’s also important not to leave spaces when you play Real Madrid because they have incredible players.
“I think we are doing well. We are sticking to our idea and right now we are fluid and we want to move forward.”
Flick is the first coach to win his first Clásico clash by 4+ goals in any competition since Jorge Valdano with Real Madrid in January 1995 (5-0).
He is also the first Barça coach to make his Clásico debut at the Santiago Bernabéu with a win since Terry Venables on 2 September 1984 (0-3).
The defeat ended Real Madrid’s 42-match unbeaten run and it was also their first defeat of the season in the league.
Up next for Barcelona is a home clash against Espanyol in the league on November 3rd, while Real Madrid will hope to bounce back with a visit to Valencia.
The Blaugrana are now six points clear of Real Madrid in the La Liga title race after winning 10 out of their opening 11 matches.
Ancelotti Disappointed In Mbappe After Madrid’s Heavy Defeat Against Barcelona is first published on The Whistler Newspaper