Actual Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned criticism of his crew was nicely deserved after their lengthy unbeaten run got here to an finish in a 1-0 defeat in opposition to Lille in France within the Champions League on Wednesday. “I’m very trustworthy. Criticism of us for right this moment’s sport is truthful and proper and we’ve got to simply accept it. We didn’t play nicely on this sport,” Ancelotti mentioned after Jonathan David’s penalty simply earlier than half-time gave Lille the victory they merited.
It was Actual’s first defeat in 37 video games in all competitions since January and their first within the Champions League since shedding to Manchester Metropolis within the semi-finals in Could 2023.
“This has not occurred to us a lot just lately fortunately. Our opponents performed higher than us and deserved to win,” added Ancelotti, whose crew beat Borussia Dortmund in final season’s last.
“We had possibilities on the finish however we would not have deserved (a draw). We’ve to study from this. There are issues we have to work on.”
Ancelotti shrugged off considerations in regards to the potential penalties of the defeat within the new format of the Champions League, which now options 36 groups all collectively in a single pool.
“I feel the unhappiness comes from the sensation given off by the crew. You may lose video games as a result of that is sport, however the sensations we gave off weren’t good,” mentioned the Italian.
Madrid had crushed VfB Stuttgart 3-1 of their opening sport two weeks in the past however be a part of the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in having misplaced considered one of their first two matches.
The highest eight groups within the standings after each crew has performed eight video games will advance on to the final 16.
The remaining locations within the final 16 can be taken by the winners of play-offs between the groups ending from ninth to twenty fourth.
Bellingham’s struggles
Actual’s subsequent sport in three weeks can be at house to Dortmund in a repeat of final season’s last. After that they face AC Milan, Liverpool and Atalanta.
That sport in opposition to Dortmund may also see Jude Bellingham come up in opposition to his previous membership, and the Englishman will hope to enhance on an usually poor begin to this marketing campaign.
“He’s enjoying in the identical place as final season with out the success he had final season,” mentioned Ancelotti of the Ballon d’Or candidate, who was booked within the second half.
“It simply wasn’t a superb evening. Let’s not search for excuses. We simply want to enhance, that’s all.”
In distinction, Lille coach Bruno Genesio admitted his delight at overseeing one of many membership’s best outcomes ever in European competitors.
The distinguished victory for Genesio follows his win over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis when in command of Lyon in 2018.
“It’s a actually nice efficiency from everyone and an attractive reward for the membership and our supporters,” mentioned Genesio.
“This exhibits what we’re able to doing however now we have to construct on this.
“It exhibits that over 90 minutes we will trigger issues for one of the best groups in Europe,” he added, conscious that Lille’s subsequent video games within the competitors can be away to Atletico and at house to Juventus.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by EDNBOX employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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