Real Madrid’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, explained that the loss to Barcelona by 1-3 stemmed from individual errors rather than a dip in effort. He stressed that the mismatch in that match came down to mistakes that were easy to avoid, not a lack of commitment from the players.
“What decides a game is the mistakes we make. We started poorly and Barcelona made us pay twice. It wasn’t about attitude; it was about individual errors. It was a tough night for everyone involved,” he remarked.
He added that conceding three goals highlighted the need to tighten the defense. Players must recognize that those slips can be prevented, and the team must work to prevent similar scenarios in the future.
“The team looked flat, not at its best. We turned the ball over too often in the first half and lost many head-to-head duels. It was an incomplete show in every respect,” he observed.
Despite the setback, Ancelotti cautioned against reading the result as a final verdict on the season. The coach noted that a single game does not define a campaign and that the club has the depth and quality to bounce back. He emphasized there is a long road ahead and stressed the importance of maintaining perspective.
When asked about the notion of humiliation, he rejected the framing. “Humiliation in sport feels like a sign of disrespect. We lost to Barcelona in this league tie, and they deserved the win. Period,” he stated. He also credited Barcelona for a stronger showing while acknowledging the mistakes Madrid made that night.
He pointed out that Barcelona played better overall when all mistakes were accounted for and remained confident that Real Madrid could restore the level seen in the previous season. “This is not a critical moment, though it is a difficult one. The team will respond with the usual determination and spirit,” he said. He called for a strong mindset to recover quickly and to ensure the defense returns to its trusted form.
“It’s essential to lift our heads, analyze what went wrong, and act decisively. Madrid has the resources to be competitive and robust again. There is no doubt about the club’s ability to rise to the challenge and reclaim its best days,” he concluded.