Real Madrid’s head coach, Carlo Ancelloti, did not hold back in his criticism of his team’s performance after being held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca in their opening game of the 2024-25 LaLiga season. The Italian manager pointed out issues with the team’s attitude and collective commitment, particularly in the second half when they lacked balance and gave away counterattacks and crosses.
Ancelloti emphasized the need for better defensive play, highlighting the team’s struggles in winning the ball back after losing possession. He stressed the importance of attitude and collective commitment in defending, noting that the team was too open and lacked focus and concentration. The coach called for more cohesion between forwards, midfielders, and defenders to address the defensive shortcomings.
Despite his team’s disappointing performance, Ancelloti gave credit to Mallorca and their manager Jagoba Arrasate for their solid defensive display. He acknowledged that the draw was a fair result based on the overall performance of both teams. The coach singled out the need for Madrid to improve their intensity and focus in order to break down well-organized defenses like Mallorca’s.
Ancelloti admitted that Madrid’s lackluster showing was unacceptable and that the team needed to do better in terms of attitude and performance. He emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and addressing the issues that were evident in the game against Mallorca. The coach stressed the need for a more balanced and cohesive approach in future matches to avoid similar setbacks.
After their disappointing draw against Mallorca, Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming LaLiga fixtures. They are set to face Real Valladolid on August 25th before taking on Las Palmas four days later. Ancelloti will be expecting a response from his players as they aim to put this early-season setback behind them and work towards reclaiming the LaLiga title.