For the first time in 37 games, Real Madrid suffered a defeat, marking a significant moment for the reigning European champions.
The Spanish giants were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Lille on Wednesday night. Not only does this end their impressive unbeaten run, but it also represents their first loss in the competition since May 2023, making the defeat even more notable.
Real Madrid’s performance on the night left much to be desired, and their manager, Carlo Ancelotti, did not shy away from expressing his disappointment during the post-match press conference. Speaking to the media (via Diario AS), Ancelotti openly acknowledged his team’s struggles, highlighting the lack of quality across the pitch.
“It’s difficult to analyse this game,” Ancelotti admitted. “We were bad in every aspect. We didn’t create, the possession was slow, no ideas.” He was particularly critical of his forwards, suggesting that their style of play was too predictable and not aggressive enough. “Our forwards need a more vertical game. This could be a problem when you’re slow,” he added, emphasizing the need for quicker transitions and a sharper offensive approach.
Ancelotti didn’t hold back in his assessment, describing the match as a complete disappointment from his perspective. “This was a bad game,” he said bluntly. “We showed a bad image, and we have bad feelings.” His words reflect a manager who is fully aware of the team’s shortcomings on the night and is willing to call it as he sees it.
Despite the obvious frustrations, Ancelotti also tried to find a silver lining in the defeat. He suggested that this setback could serve as a much-needed wake-up call for his squad. Drawing on past experiences, he pointed to a similar moment in January when Real Madrid lost to Atletico Madrid, a defeat that ultimately sparked a positive turnaround. “The loss against Atletico in January helped us to change. Hopefully, the same will happen now,” he stated, expressing hope that this result could lead to a renewed focus and a strong run of form moving forward.
while the loss to Lille may be disappointing for Real Madrid, Ancelotti remains optimistic that it could be the catalyst for improvement, just as a past defeat helped motivate his players earlier in the year.
