Real Madrid reaped their second defeat of the season at Villarreal’s ground in a match with multiple chances on both sides that was decided by a penalty converted by Gerard Moreno (2-1). The whites could not sleep leaders of the Santander League, which is still led by Barça, and his coach, Carlo Ancelotti, lamented the defensive gaps of his pupils.
“We have made it difficult. We have not defended well. From the start we have not started well and getting back into the game is difficult. We have not started well in 2023, like last year. Sometimes we have to read the situation better. If they pressure us we have to put in a long ball. The reading is not good”, explained the Italian coach to Movistar.
In the absence of Carvajal due to injury, Ancelotti bet on the right side for Militão, the usual central defender, to the detriment of Lucas Vázquez, whom he saw as “tired” from his performance in the previous match against Cacereño. “I have seen Militão with Brazil and he has done well in that position. It was not Militão’s problem in defense, it was the fault of a team that did not close well and was not well placed. We must work on this more, focus more on this problem,” he insisted.
Regarding the two maximum penalties for handballs, one in favor of his team marked by Benzema and the decisive one by Moreno, he did not admit doubts: “They are penalties. A bit like that, but we have to get used to it. When there is a penalty in the area it is handball Although if it’s for me, neither is a penalty”.
“It was a two-way game. We fought and it didn’t come out,” concluded Ancelotti, while the Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, admitted that “it’s a tough defeat.” “We had losses and we let them enter the opening match. The second part we started worse. It’s Alaba’s support hand and he falls. The one from Foyth is doubtful”, the Belgian was self-critical, although annoyed with the signaling of the penalty against.
“We didn’t keep calm to close the game. The season is very long. If Barça wins tomorrow it will be a three-point cushion and that’s nothing today”, concluded Courtois, who was once again crucial in several scoring opportunities of the groguets but he could not do anything in Pino’s goal and in the shot from eleven meters by Moreno, who deceived him perfectly
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