Carlo Ancelotti has assessed Real Madrid's defeat against Rayo Vallecano, the first in the league this season for the Whites. “It has not been a good game. They have been more forceful in duels and we have lost many balls. It has been a bad night”, the Italian coach has sentenced without hot cloths.
In a very direct appearance, Ancelotti had no problem acknowledging that Rayo had beaten them in intensity, starting with the pressure on Courtois: “It was very difficult for us to get the ball from behind. There we should have changed our strategy. Sometimes there's nothing wrong with going long", assured the Madrid coach, who acknowledges that today they have not performed at a great level: "When you are not capable of being as forceful as the rival, you cannot assert your quality" .
Ancelotti has only saved one footballer from criticism for the defeat and the bad game in Vallecas: “Asensio has been fine today, the rest have been at a lower level than usual. Vini, Rodrygo, who has missed two or three shots that they normally put in…”.
Real Madrid loses the lead and remains two points behind Barça. A distance that the azulgranas will have the opportunity to extend tomorrow with a victory in Pamplona. Ancelotti acknowledges that the team reaches the limit on the last day before the break for the World Cup in Qatar: “We arrived a little tight at the break, it's the truth. We lack a bit of freshness but it's normal after a lot of games”.
Despite the defeat, for the Madrid coach, the balance of the season so far is positive: “We have to make an evaluation of this first part of the season. Today we lost, it bothers us, but we did well. We are doing well in the League, in the second round of the Champions League... finish well against Cádiz, rest and come back”.
Thibaut Courtois has also shared the coach's opinion and has acknowledged that they have not performed at a good level: “We were not up to the task in the first half. We conceded too many silly goals, so to speak... Due to mistakes or not being one hundred percent in the game. Then the penalty, it's bad luck, Carvajal gets into the area and it has to be repeated”. A move that “changes everything”. "They score a goal for us and they grow."
The Madrid goalkeeper considers it "normal" that they are not one hundred percent physically after all the wear and tear, but he does not look for excuses to justify the defeat: "The draw against Girona was more bad luck, but today was not our best day and Rayo has played well".
Real Madrid player Lucas Vázquez also commented on the defeat, acknowledging that it was "a complicated game" against Rayo who today "have been very good". “They have gone ahead very quickly, we have turned it around but the advantage has not lasted for a long time. Then the penalty makes them go ahead and we've had a couple of chances, but it's cost us”.
For the Galician striker, the key has been that Madrid have not been able to find each other in Vallecas: "It has been difficult for us to find our football, chain longer combinations and reach clearer finishing points". And, finally, he referred to the penalty that they had ordered to be retaken because Carvajal had gone ahead of time: “I don't know if it was Courtois or someone from the area. It's well pointed out, but the same thing happens in every game and we should always be just as rigorous".
Check here the classification of the Santander League and all the results of the day
