Spanish Super Cup final: We did not defend well, says Madrid’s Ancelotti after 5-2 defeat to Barcelona
Spanish Super Cup final: We did not defend well, says Madrid’s Ancelotti after 5-2 defeat to Barcelona
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was “sad and disappointed” after his team lost to Barcelona 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Madrid lost for the first time after a run of five consecutive victories. “We have to look at the reality, and that is that we did not defend well in the opposition half or with the low block. They scored goals very easily, and we didn’t work hard, collectively or individually,” Ancelotti said after the loss.
Ancelotti watched on as his side was beaten by Barca, despite Kylian Mbappe’s fifth-minute goal, which put Madrid in a 1-0 lead.
“I can’t take anything away from it except Mbappé ‘s performance, who scored a great goal in a good move. We have to forget about the rest and look forward,” said the Madrid coach.
However, all of Barcelona’s goals came in the first half, as it took a 5-1 lead following Mbappe’s opener.
“We lost a lot of duels. That makes us sad and disappointed, but that’s football. We have to take that sadness home. We have no option but to look forward and prepare for the next game and recover the good form we’d been in,” Ancelotti added.
The Catalans were reduced to 10 men when Mbappe sped in at the other end, rounding goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who brought him down outside the area, and after a VAR review was dismissed.
Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes, who earlier hit the post, rifled home the free-kick past Szczesny’s replacement Inaki Pena.
“I won’t name anyone, I’m talking about the whole team. We didn’t defend well, we weren’t compact, and we have to defend better… We had an extra man [after Szczesny’s red card], and we couldn’t find solutions. But that doesn’t hurt more, I’m sad about the game as a whole.”
Madrid will hope to overcome the Spanish Super Cup final defeat and return to action next Thursday in the Copa del Rey against Celta Vigo for a place in the quarterfinals.
(With inputs from AFP)
