Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted his side were simply outworked by Arsenal following their recent defeat, pointing to physical metrics as a key difference between the two teams.

Ancelotti didn’t shy away from the reality of the loss, openly acknowledging that his team came up short in key areas of physical performance.

“Against Arsenal, we did less in every aspect: in sprint distance, in total distance, in acceleration… They worked harder than us,” the Italian said bluntly.

The defeat has raised questions once again about Madrid’s physical intensity in high-stakes games. Ancelotti, however, was quick to defend the broader philosophy that has brought him success, reminding fans that effort alone doesn’t always tell the whole story.

“It’s a question of the players’ attributes. The same thing happened in previous years, we were able to win by running less total distance,” he explained, referencing past Champions League triumphs where Real Madrid were often outmatched physically but still managed to emerge victorious thanks to technical quality and composure.

He further elaborated on the importance of the type of running, not just the volume.

He said: “The statistics talk a lot about total distance but not about sprint distance, which isn’t like this. Despite this, we have won two Champions League trophies.”

Ancelotti’s remarks highlight a recurring theme in elite football—where tactical discipline, experience, and technical ability can often outweigh pure physical effort. However, on this occasion, even the sprint metrics fell short, and Madrid’s lack of sharpness across the board left them vulnerable.