Carlo Ancelotti has criticized Real Madrid’s defense and said he is “upset with the whole game” after beaten 5-2 by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Two-time Super Cup winner Ancelotti hailed Kylian Mbappe’s performance after the striker scored a stunning fifth-minute opener but Barca scored. Lamine YamalRobert Lewandowski, Rafinha and Alejandro Balde lead 4-1 at half-time in Jeddah.
“We will have to try to play football, because we didn’t do that in the first half,” Ancelotti told Movistar. ASwhen asked what he had said to his players at half-time.
We took advantage of long balls, but that should have been an option, not the idea. The idea was to play and we didn’t do that. I said we could lose, but not like the first half.”
Madrid vs Barcelona
After Rafinha made it 4-1 in the 48th minute, Madrid received a much-needed boost when Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was shown a straight red card eight minutes later for obstructing Mbappe.
Rodrigo’s response from a 60th-minute free-kick capped a comeback for the European champions, with Barca avenging their 4-1 defeat in last season’s final.
“We have to look at the reality,” Ancelotti said. “We didn’t defend well. They scored very easily. We didn’t work well collectively or individually.
“It leaves us sad and disappointed. Our grief is with our fans. I don’t want to point the finger at anyone. They didn’t defend well at the back. The team was not solid.
“The game was not good from the first to the last minute. We were men and we couldn’t create chances. I’m upset about the whole game.”
La Liga: Matches Madrid
Spanish champions Madrid are five points ahead of second-placed Barcelona The Leaguewith leading Atletico Madrid one point ahead.
The Champions League holders are at home to Celta Vigo in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Thursday (8.30pm) and host 14th-placed Las Palmas in the league on Sunday (3.15pm).
“There is still a lot of season left and we have to look ahead,” Ancelotti said. “We will go home, think and prepare for Thursday’s game.”
