Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned criticism of his group was properly deserved after their lengthy unbeaten run got here to an finish in a 1-0 defeat in opposition to Lille in France within the Champions League on Wednesday. “I’m very sincere. Criticism of us for right now’s recreation is honest and proper and now we have to just accept it. We didn’t play properly on this recreation,” Ancelotti mentioned after Jonathan David’s penalty simply earlier than half-time gave Lille the victory they merited.
It was Real’s first defeat in 37 video games in all competitions since January and their first within the Champions League since shedding to Manchester City within the semi-finals in May 2023.
“This has not occurred to us a lot lately fortunately. Our opponents performed higher than us and deserved to win,” added Ancelotti, whose group beat Borussia Dortmund in final season’s remaining.
“We had possibilities on the finish however we would not have deserved (a draw). We should be taught from this. There are issues we have to work on.”
Ancelotti shrugged off considerations concerning the potential penalties of the defeat within the new format of the Champions League, which now options 36 groups all collectively in a single pool.
“I feel the disappointment comes from the sensation given off by the group. You can lose video games as a result of that is sport, however the sensations we gave off weren’t good,” mentioned the Italian.
Madrid had crushed VfB Stuttgart 3-1 of their opening recreation two weeks in the past however be a part of the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in having misplaced one in all their first two matches.
The high eight groups within the standings after each group has performed eight video games will advance on to the final 16.
The remaining locations within the final 16 might be taken by the winners of play-offs between the groups ending from ninth to twenty fourth.
Bellingham’s struggles
Real’s subsequent recreation in three weeks might be at dwelling to Dortmund in a repeat of final season’s remaining. After that they face AC Milan, Liverpool and Atalanta.
That recreation in opposition to Dortmund will even see Jude Bellingham come up in opposition to his outdated membership, and the Englishman will hope to enhance on an usually poor begin to this marketing campaign.
“He is enjoying in the identical place as final season with out the success he had final season,” mentioned Ancelotti of the Ballon d’Or candidate, who was booked within the second half.
“It simply wasn’t a very good night time. Let’s not search for excuses. We simply want to enhance, that’s all.”
In distinction, Lille coach Bruno Genesio admitted his delight at overseeing one of many membership’s most interesting outcomes ever in European competitors.
The prestigious victory for Genesio follows his win over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City when accountable for Lyon in 2018.
“It is a extremely nice efficiency from all people and a stupendous reward for the membership and our supporters,” mentioned Genesio.
“This reveals what we’re able to doing however now we have to construct on this.
“It reveals that over 90 minutes we will trigger issues for the most effective groups in Europe,” he added, conscious that Lille’s subsequent video games within the competitors might be away to Atletico and at dwelling to Juventus.
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