Real Madrid kicked off their La Liga campaign with a 1-1 draw against Mallorca, a result that clearly disappointed coach Carlo Ancelotti. He wasted no time addressing the issues in a candid post-game press conference.
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“We started strong but lost our grip as the game went on,” Ancelotti pointed out. He emphasized that the team’s defensive lapses nearly cost them the match. “It was a game we could have lost, because we conceded counterattacks and crosses. We’ve got to tighten up our defense. We’re an attacking team, but we need balance,” he explained.
👔 @MrAncelotti: "We're a very attacking team, but defensive balance is a fundamental factor."#MallorcaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/oVL6yPOSMf
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 18, 2024
The lineup boasted big names like Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., and Mbappé, with Rodrygo netting the early goal.
Ancelotti clearly showed his frustration as he talked about the game changing moment when Mallorca’s Dani Rodríguez delivered a corner and Vedat Muriqi headed it in to equalize.
From there, the game turned into a push-and-pull, with Real Madrid pressing to retake the lead and Mallorca digging in. “After we lost the ball, pressing became difficult. It’s about collective attitude and commitment,” Ancelotti admitted.
Key takeaways from the game, the Real boss had some, “Last year, a draw might have been okay, but not today. We need to learn from this because it exposed where we’re vulnerable.”
This draw is a wake-up call for Real Madrid. With a team stacked with talent, it’s clear that star power alone isn’t enough. They need to sharpen their focus to ensure that early leads turn into wins.
