
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has refused to single out individual players for criticism following the team’s humbling 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. The loss exposed several defensive frailties across the squad, prompting Ancelotti to focus on the collective issues rather than pointing fingers.
When asked about specific players, such as Lucas Vazquez and Aurelien Tchouameni, Ancelotti stood firm in his team-first approach. “I won’t talk about any player in particular. We are a team,” he stated, deflecting attention away from individual performances.
Addressing Tchouameni’s display, Ancelotti reiterated the need to assess the bigger picture. “We defended badly as a team; there is no need to name anyone,” he said, stressing that the problems ran deeper than isolated mistakes.
In his assessment of the game, Ancelotti didn’t mince words. “The game was bad, from the beginning until the end,” he admitted. Highlighting the collective shortcomings, he added, “It was a collective problem. We didn’t defend well at the back or in the middle of the pitch. The team wasn’t compact, and we have to get back to defending better.”
The defeat leaves Real Madrid with significant work to do, as Ancelotti and his players seek to regroup and address the issues that cost them dearly against their fiercest rivals.