Carlo Ancelotti was keen to avoid questions about Real Madrid’s Supercopa de Espana defeat to Barcelona last Sunday ahead of facing Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey.
Ancelotti watched on as Los Blancos were thrashed 5-2 by their Clasico rivals, earning Hansi Flick his first trophy since taking over the Blaugrana.
It also saw Barca lift a record-extending 15th Supercopa title, with Ancelotti venting his frustrations after full-time, saying his side chose “not to play football”.
But the bitterness from that defeat seemed to linger during his pre-match press conference ahead of their round of 16 clash against Claudio Giraldez’s side on Thursday.
Ancelotti refused to respond to a question asked about Madrid making a move to sign players in January, while also offering an abrupt answer when his squad’s commitment and attitude was quizzed.
“Let’s make one thing clear: this is a press conference, not a debate. I debate with my coaching staff and my players,” Ancelotti said to reporters on Wednesday.
“Opening a debate here does not seem to me to be the most appropriate place.
“(Playing at home against Celta) is an important opportunity to come back from the bad game we played, which hurt us a lot but didn’t sink us.
“We want to react, and I hope it goes well, that the reaction is strong after the bad game the other day.”
Madrid have not lost any of their last 17 meetings with Celta in all competitions (W14 D3), since a 1-2 defeat at the Bernabeu in January 2017, their best unbeaten run against them in their history.
Sunday’s defeat was the second time Barcelona have trounced Madrid this season, the first coming in a 4-0 hammering in LaLiga at the Bernabeu back in October.
Having won the Champions League and the Spanish top flight in a remarkable 2023-24 campaign, Los Blancos have failed to keep up that same level this term.
Ancelotti’s side started their league season poorly but have since recovered, with Madrid currently second in LaLiga and a point behind leaders Atletico Madrid.
But their struggles have come in Europe, with Madrid sitting 20th in the new 36-team Champions League table with two games of the first phase of the competition left.
Ancelotti, however, insisted that the outside noise would not interfere with his job, explaining that he was focused on getting his side back on track in the coming weeks.
“I don’t follow the wave of criticism, that one day you’re the best in the world and another day you’re the dumbest,” he said.
“I have the necessary balance, which experience has given me, to know who I am and not get carried away by the wave. I don’t think I’m the best, but I don’t think I’m the dumbest either.
“(Sunday’s defeat) is a step backwards, but we have to move forward. There is a season left in which we are well positioned in all competitions.
“It was a bad game, we made a lot of mistakes. We have evaluated it and found the solution. We have to move on.
“The good thing about football is that after a bad game, after a defeat like that, there is a chance to do well, which is tomorrow, and it gives you the opportunity to focus a lot on what you have to do and not on the bad things you have done.”
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