Despite Real’s defeat against Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti is satisfied with the performance of his players. The Real Madrid coach is looking forward to the return in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey tournament.
Due to an own goal by Éder Militão, Real lost to the arch-rival at home on Thursday evening. According to Ancelotti, the 0-1 result does not do justice to the match image. Barcelona played extremely carefully at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Although critics will find ‘cowardly’ a better title. Xavi’s team dropped back, only had 36 percent possession and scored four goal attempts in ninety minutes.
“We played well, with a lot of intensity and a lot of pressure up front,” Ancelotti told the Spanish press afterwards. “It is positive that Barcelona had so little possession. We performed as we wanted, only without scoring. Care was lacking near the target. There were many chairmen, but they are strong in the air. Nevertheless, we are satisfied with the match image. It is difficult to be in control against Barcelona like this,” the Italian analyzed his eleventh Clásico as coach of Real Madrid.
Ancelotti won two of the last three matches he played with De Koninklijke at Camp Nou. In recent years, the Madrilenians often handled the larger spaces they were given in the lion’s den, where offensive football remains the norm for the home team. That will offer opportunities for Real again on April 5, Ancelotti realizes.
“If we play with this intensity again, we will get even more chances. Because Barcelona can’t defend like that in Camp Nou. It was quite strange to see Barcelona play like this,” Ancelotti said defiantly.
La Liga boss Javier Tebas does not see Barcelona making any transfers this season
The financial problems are far from resolved at Barcelona. La Liga boss Javier Tebas has spoken out about the club’s financial straits and delivered an ominous message.
In conversation with the Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia, Tebas paints a gloomy picture for Barça. “It is practically impossible that Barca can buy players in the summer. A lot has to change, otherwise they will get into trouble,” predicts the policymaker in Spain.
Tebas does not make an empty threat. “We have already made sure that Barcelona could not buy players in the winter and that will happen again next summer. If we look the other way with Barcelona, we will be doing ourselves and the league a disservice,” he added.
Barça also had to do all kinds of financial antics before the start of the current season to attract players, Tebas has announced that this will not be possible for next season.
