Carlo Ancelotti expressed his frustration following Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Mallorca on Sunday night, highlighting issues with the team’s attitude and defensive organization.
“Last year, I was satisfied with some draws, but not today. We could have performed much better. I don’t want to make excuses.
We simply needed to show more attitude and improvement. It’s clear where the problem lies,” Ancelotti said.
Assessing the first half, Ancelotti noted, “We started well, but overall it wasn’t a good game.
We need to improve our defensive balance. We’ve emphasized before that while we’re very offensive, balance is crucial.”
When asked about the timing of his substitutions, Ancelotti commented, “Perhaps they were late.
Everyone has their own opinion, but I don’t wish to comment further on this.”
Regarding Kylian Mbappé’s positioning, Ancelotti explained, “The forwards sometimes switch positions based on their performance during the game.”
On team rotations and defense, he noted, “We didn’t rotate much last year, but we will likely rotate more once the Champions League starts.
Defensively, we were lacking. We struggled with the pressure after losing possession.
We need to improve our attitude and collective commitment.”
Addressing the team’s shape, Ancelotti stated, “The problem was that the team was too open.
We need to be more focused, as we usually are. It’s not a physical or mental issue.”
Finally, he discussed finding balance within the team: “When we regain possession, everyone must work together.
It’s not just a problem for the forwards or defenders; it’s a team issue.
We didn’t grasp this aspect well today. Mallorca defended excellently, and the draw is a fair result.”
