Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that his team’s hopes of retaining the La Liga title are now complicated after Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Valencia, Afrosport reports.
Goals from Mali defender Mouctar Diakhaby and Spain forward Hugo Duro, in between Vinicius Jr.’s strike, were more than enough to hand Los Che their first league win at the Bernabeu in 17 matches.
The defeat left Madrid four points behind Barcelona who drew 1-1 with Real Betis on Saturday night but regardless, Ancelotti wants to his team to keep fighting until the end.
“Now it’s more complicated to fight for the league, but we want to do well until the end because we still have options. We have to keep fighting until the last game,” the Italian tactician said.
“We must keep in mind that small details have condemned us. The penalty, the set piece and the disallowed goal. They are small details that change the dynamic of the match. Valencia did a fantastic job but Madrid deserved to win the game. There are also things to improve”.
@MrAncelotti: “We have to keep fighting until the last game”.
Press conference
RM Play
— Real Madrid C.F.
(@realmadriden) April 5, 2025
Vinicius Jr. missed from the penalty spot, raising questions about his abilities with other options like Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham available. Ancelotti equally called it a complicated situation.
“It has been a complicated season for penalty takers,” he added.
“Bellingham missed against Valencia, Mbappe missed in Bilbao and against Liverpool and Vinicius also missed against Atletico. I wanted to give him the confidence to take it and he also missed it.”
Ancelotti now wants his team to focus on Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg tie Arsenal.
“We missed the chance to fight for the league with more forcefulness. The match against Arsenal will be different because they will attack more and we have to be more solid. In addition, we need to be more effective in front of goal,” he stated.
Real Madrid will be gunning to retain the Champions League for a record-extending16th time.
